Alimony Legal Meaning and Definition

Here is a simplified definition of the legal term Alimony.

Alimony (noun)

Alimony refers to the financial support that a person is legally required to provide to their spouse both during a separation and after a divorce. The purpose of alimony is to provide the lower-income spouse with a standard of living similar to what they enjoyed during the marriage. It also acknowledges the contribution of one spouse to the other's ability to earn income, such as time spent raising children or assisting in the higher earner's career. The terms, including the amount and duration of alimony, may be decided in a court or through an agreement between the spouses. It's not related to the arbitrator's role in settling disagreements.