Dictionary of Law
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spousal support :: legal definition


Spousal support - n. payment for support of an ex-spouse (or a spouse while a divorce is pending) ordered by the court. More commonly called alimony, spousal support is the term used in California and a few other states as part of new non-confrontational language (such as "dissolution" instead of "divorce") now used since divorce is "no-fault" in all states but two.

See also: alimony divorce and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

adultery :: n. consensual sexual relations when one of the par ... s and grist for scandal newspapers.
alimony :: n. support paid by one ex-spouse to the other as o ... ild support divorce spousal support
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
comparative negligence :: n. a rule of law applied in accident cases to dete ... utory negligence damages negligence
copyright :: 1) n. the exclusive right of the author or creator ... plagiarism public domain trademark
cruelty :: n. the intentional and malicious infliction of phy ... ruel and unusual punishment divorce
d.b.a. :: n. short for "doing business as," when a person or ... that is registered with the state.
divorce :: 1) n. the termination of a marriage by legal actio ... y separate property spousal support
double jeopardy :: n. placing someone on trial a second time for an o ... that occurred thirty years earlier.
eminent domain :: n. the power of a governmental entity (federal, st ... ngs. See also: condemn condemnation
extreme cruelty :: n. an archaic requirement to show infliction of ph ... ring the suffering spouse (victim).
foreclosure :: n. the system by which a party who has loaned mone ... ced sale mortgage notice of default
grandfather clause :: n. 1) a clause in a statute or zoning ordinance (p ... Such laws are now unconstitutional.
interlocutory decree :: n. a court judgment which is temporary and not int ... ppeared to waste the parties' time.
interrogatories :: n. a set of written questions to a party to a laws ... ing. See also: deposition discovery
mortgage :: n. a document in which the owner pledges his/her/i ... losure notice of default trust deed
negligence :: n. failure to exercise the care toward others whic ... gence per se res ipsa loquitur tort
parens patriae :: (paa-rens pat-tree-eye) n. Latin for "father of hi ... pport custody divorce guardian ward
petty larceny :: n. a term used in many states for theft of a small ... emeanor in charging and sentencing.
robbery :: n. 1) the direct taking of property (including mon ... We've been robbed." See also: theft
seal :: n. a device which creates an impression upon paper ... e "sealed," but that is rare today.
seduction :: n. the use of charm, salesmanship, promises, gifts ... ry breach of promise date rape rape
separation agreement :: n. an agreement between two married people who hav ... divorce legal separation separation
tax :: n. a governmental assessment (charge) upon propert ... unified estate and gift tax use tax
use tax :: n. a state tax on goods purchased in another state ... e" tax equivalent to its sales tax.

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 - S

said :: adj. a reference back to a thing that was previous ... automobile in a negligent manner."
sale :: n. transfer of something (and title to it) in retu ... contract forced sale sheriff's sale
salvage :: 1) v. to save goods. 2) n. payment to a person or ... which saves cargo from a shipwreck.
sanction :: n. 1) a financial penalty imposed by a judge on a ... ction." See also: contempt of court
satisfaction :: n. receiving payment or performance of what is due ... n contract satisfaction of judgment
satisfaction of judgment :: n. a document signed by a judgment creditor (the p ... ord. See also: abstract of judgment
satisfaction of mortgage :: n. a document signed by a lender acknowledging tha ... id off the debt. See also: mortgage
save harmless :: v. 1) also called hold harmless, to indemnify (pro ... . See also: hold harmless indemnify
savings and loan :: n. a banking and lending institution, chartered ei ... vings into the home finance market.
scienter :: n. Latin for "having knowledge." In criminal law, ... ents were lies and thus fraudulent.
scintilla :: n. Latin for "spark." Scintilla is commonly used i ... ark) upon which to base a judgment.
scope of employment :: n. actions of an employee which further the busine ... ter and servant respondeat superior
scrivener :: n. a person who writes a document for another, usu ... r practicing law without a license.
seal :: n. a device which creates an impression upon paper ... e "sealed," but that is rare today.
sealed verdict :: n. the decision of a jury when there is a delay in ... reconvenes. See also: jury verdict
sealing of records :: n. trial records and decisions which a judge order ... eep the terms from public scrutiny.
search :: v. 1) to examine another's premises (including a v ... e search and seizure search warrant
search and seizure :: n. examination of a person's premises (residence, ... robable cause search search warrant
search warrant :: n. a written order by a judge which permits a law ... ble cause search search and seizure
second degree murder :: n. a non-premeditated killing, resulting from an a ... t degree murder manslaughter murder