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alimony :: legal definition


Alimony - n. support paid by one ex-spouse to the other as ordered by a court in a divorce (dissolution) case. Alimony is also called "spousal support" in California and some other states. Usually it is paid by the male to his ex, but in some cases a wealthy woman may have to pay her husband, or, in same-sex relationships the "breadwinner" may pay to support his/her stay-at-home former partner. Many counties and states have adopted formulas for alimony based on the income of each party. Payment of alimony is usually limited in time based on the number of years of marriage. Lengthy marriages may result in a lifetime of payments. A substantial change in circumstance, such as illness, retirement, or loss of income, can be grounds for the court to grant a modification or termination of the payment. Failure to pay ordered alimony can result in contempt of court citations and even jail time. The level of alimony can be determined by written agreement and submitted to the court for a stipulated order. Income tax-wise, alimony is deductible as an expense for the payer and charged as income to the recipient. Child support is not alimony.

See also: child support divorce spousal support and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

ad litem :: adj. legal Latin meaning "for the purposes of the ... of age. See also: guardian ad litem
adequate remedy :: n. a remedy (money or performance) awarded by a co ... es it, giving cause for his arrest.
administrator :: n. the person appointed by the court to handle the ... e also: administer executor probate
amicus curiae :: n. Latin for "friend of the court," a party or an ... party's presentation to the court.
appeal :: 1) v. to ask a higher court to reverse the decisio ... ng, as in "he has filed an appeal."
bailiff :: n. 1) a court official, usually a deputy sheriff, ... isdictional territory of a bailiff.
bankruptcy :: n. a federal system of statutes and courts which p ... y proceedings trustee in bankruptcy
change of circumstances :: n. the principal reason for a court modifying (ame ... ild support divorce spousal support
child custody :: n. a court's determination of which parent, relati ... pport custody divorce joint custody
child support :: n. court-ordered funds to be paid by one parent to ... ild custody divorce spousal support
collateral :: 1) n. property pledged to secure a loan or debt, u ... ral to the Colorado divorce action.
competent :: adj. 1) in general, able to act in the circumstanc ... all bases. See also: evidence will
complaint :: n. the first document filed with the court (actual ... g prayer service of process summons
contempt of court :: n. there are essentially two types of contempt: a) ... roduce evidence. See also: sanction
court :: n. 1) the judge, as in "The court rules in favor o ... cost and wait of full court trials.
court costs :: n. fees for expenses that the courts pass on to at ... ee also: cost bill prevailing party
divorce :: 1) n. the termination of a marriage by legal actio ... y separate property spousal support
domestic relations :: n. a polite term for the legal field of divorce, d ... port and alimony. See also: divorce
enjoin :: v. for a court to order that someone either do a s ... so: injunction temporary injunction
equity :: n. 1) a venerable group of rights and procedures t ... ry enjoin equitable injunction writ
execution :: n. 1) the act of getting an officer of the court t ... so: death penalty writ of execution
final settlement :: n. an agreement reached by the parties to a lawsui ... rneys present. See also: settlement
friendly suit :: n. a lawsuit filed in order to obtain a court orde ... eement in which there was an error.
gag order :: n. a judge's order prohibiting the attorneys and t ... st day in office, January 22, 1993.
garnish :: v. to obtain a court order directing a party holdi ... ed. See also: garnishee garnishment
guardian :: n. a person who has been appointed by a judge to t ... torship. See also: conservator ward
indispensable party :: n. a person or entity which must be included in a ... tion to join Olivia as a defendant.
injunction :: n. a writ (order) issued by a court ordering someo ... t. See also: injunctive relief writ
insanity :: n. mental illness of such a severe nature that a p ... M'Naughten rule temporary insanity
insolvency :: n. 1) the condition of having more debts (liabilit ... the property. See also: bankruptcy
joint custody :: n. in divorce actions, a decision by the court (of ... em. See also: child custody divorce
joint tenancy :: n. a crucial relationship in the ownership of real ... ty property tenancy in common title
judicial sale :: n. a sale of goods by an official (keeper, trustee ... o be sold. See also: sheriff's sale
jury fees :: n. the rather minimal amount paid each day to juro ... ees as a court cost. See also: jury
juvenile court :: n. a special court or department of a trial court ... See also: court juvenile delinquent
legal separation :: n. a court-decreed right to live apart, with the r ... n is rarely used. See also: divorce
liability :: n. one of the most significant words in the field ... bility joint tortfeasors negligence
malpractice :: n. An act or continuing conduct of a professional ... eed. See also: errors and omissions
mandate :: n. 1) any mandatory order or requirement under sta ... See also: mandamus writ of mandate
marshal :: 1) n. a federal court official who may serve paper ... tablish priorities among creditors.
modification :: n. a change in an existing court order or judgment ... terms of child support and custody.
motion for a summary judgment :: n. a written request for a judgment in the moving ... strict procedures. See also: motion
no fault insurance :: n: a type of automobile insurance required of car ... ling lawsuits. See also: negligence
not guilty by reason of insanity :: n. plea in court of a person charged with a crime ... fense not guilty temporary insanity
notice :: n. 1) information, usually in writing in all legal ... Thirty-day notice three-day notice
nunc pro tunc :: (nuhnk proh tuhnk) adj. Latin for "now for then," ... r actuality of a bigamous marriage.
option :: n. a right to purchase property or require another ... ng or upon expiration of the lease.
order :: 1) n. every direction or mandate of a judge or a c ... defendant. See also: judge judgment
parens patriae :: (paa-rens pat-tree-eye) n. Latin for "father of hi ... pport custody divorce guardian ward
peremptory writ of mandate :: (or mandamus) n. a final order of a court to any g ... ve writ. See also: mandamus mandate
petition :: 1) n. a formal written request to a court for an o ... dent. See also: divorce motion writ
presiding judge :: n. 1) in both state and federal appeals court, the ... and chairs meetings of the judges.
process :: n. in law, the legal means by which a person is re ... service of process subpena summons
remedy :: n. the means to achieve justice in any matter in w ... gment provisional remedy settlement
remittitur :: n. 1) a judge's order reducing a judgment awarded ... party on appeal). See also: remand
respondent :: n. 1) the party who is required to answer a petiti ... "appellant") in the appeals court.
resulting trust :: n. a trust implied by law (as determined by a cour ... See also: constructive trust trust
reversal :: n. the decision of a court of appeal ruling that t ... e of damages is ordered to dismiss.
rule :: 1) v. to decide a legal question, by a court, as i ... ee also: regulations rules of court
sentence :: 1) n. the punishment given to a person convicted o ... ence restitution suspended sentence
separation agreement :: n. an agreement between two married people who hav ... divorce legal separation separation
service of process :: n. the delivery of copies of legal documents such ... by publication substituted service
set aside :: v. to annul or negate a court order or judgment by ... "set aside" the original dismissal.
show cause order :: n. an order of the court, also called an order to ... hild. See also: order to show cause
spousal support :: n. payment for support of an ex-spouse (or a spous ... but two. See also: alimony divorce
strike :: 1) v. to remove a statement from the record of the ... ing the business, factory or store.
summons :: n. a document issued by the court at the time a la ... use service service of process writ
supersedeas :: (sooh-purr-said-ee-uhs) Latin for "you shall desis ... . See also: appeal court of appeals
Supreme Court :: n. 1) the highest court in the United States, whic ... rt in other states. See also: court
temporary injunction :: n. a court order prohibiting an action by a party ... ry injunction. See also: injunction
transcript :: n. the written record of all proceedings, includin ... unless transcription is requested.
ward :: n. 1) a person (usually a minor) who has a guardia ... ouncil district. See also: guardian
warrant :: 1) n. an order (writ) of a court which directs a l ... e search and seizure search warrant
wrongful death :: n. the death of a human being as the result of a w ... ual beneficiaries (family members).

Popular Law Searches

legal definition ministerial act :: n. an act, particularly of a governmental employee ... exercising any individual judgment.
chancery legal definition :: n. a court that can order acts performed. Today ch ... ts in most states. See also: equity
testamentary disposition legal definition :: n. how the terms of a will divide the testator's ( ... named beneficiaries. See also: will
contract of sufferance :: n. a "hold-over" tenancy after a lease has expired ... y tenancy at will unlawful detainer
forthwith legal definition :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
forthwith definition legal :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
what is to wit in a legal contract :: prep. that is to say. Example: "the passengers in ... tty Bumgartner and Sherry Younger."
mirror wills legal definition :: n. the wills of a husband and wife which are ident ... d each names the other as executor.
clean hands doctrine latin :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense
sine qua non only relates to contract law :: (see-nay kwah nahn) prep. Latin for "without which ... qua non of the injury to Playmate.

Other Law Terms - A

a fortiori :: (ah-for-she-ory) prep. Latin for "with even strong ... rother Cain certainly is too young.
a priori assumption :: (ah-pree-ory) n. from Latin, an assumption that is ... when the reality is not so certain.
a.k.a. :: prep. abbreviation for "also known as" when someon ... nodgrass, a.k.a. "Snuffy the Snod."
ab initio :: prep. lawyer Latin for "from the start," as "it wa ... tart," as "it was legal ab initio."
abandon :: v. to intentionally and permanently give up, surre ... lso: abandoned property abandonment
abandoned property :: n. property left behind (often by a tenant) intent ... -use. See also: abandon abandonment
abandonment :: n. the act of intentionally and permanently giving ... : abandon abandoned property patent
abate :: v. to do away with a problem, such as a public or ... ty septic tank. See also: abatement
abatement :: n. 1) the removal of a problem which is against pu ... eneficiary in full. See also: abate
abduction :: n. the criminal taking away of a person by persuas ... g of children. See also: kidnapping
abet :: v. to help someone commit a crime, including helpi ... n the crime. See also: aid and abet
abeyance :: 1) n. when the owner- ship of property has not bee ... 2) legal jargon for "undetermined."
able-bodied :: adj. physically capable of working at a job or in ... of paying alimony or child support.
abortion :: n. the termination of pregnancy by various means, ... ed abortion continue in the future.
abrogate :: v. to annul or repeal a law or pass legislation th ... ons of a contract. See also: repeal
abscond :: v. 1) traditionally to leave a jurisdiction (where ... as in "he absconded with the loot."
absolute :: adj. complete, and without condition. ... j. complete, and without condition.
abstention doctrine :: n. when the Supreme Court refuses to exercise its ... being appealed from a state court.
abstract :: n. in general, a summary of a record or document, ... tract of judgment abstract of title
abstract of judgment :: n. a written summary of a judgment which states ho ... aying the debt. See also: levy lien