Spousal Support | California Courts | Self Help Guide

Skip to main content Judicial Branch of California

• Supreme Court
• Courts of Appeal
• Superior Courts
• Judicial Council

Previous Page Index: All Pages Spousal support

Spousal support (also known as alimony) is a court ordered payment from one spouse or domestic partner to help cover the other’s monthly expenses. In California, when it is between married persons, support is called spousal support. It’s called domestic partner support between domestic partners.

PRINT EMAIL Enter your email We'll only use this email to send this link TEXT Enter your mobile number Ten digit mobile number starting with the area code (e.g. 4158654200)

Select your mobile carrier Select your mobile carrierBoost MobileCricket WirelessAlltelGoogle FiMetroPCSAT&TRepublic WirelessSprintT-MobileVerizonU.S. CellularVirgin Mobile We'll only use this mobile number to send this link

Spousal support

 We use spousal support to also mean domestic partner support, unless noted. 

A judge can make a spousal support order in a divorce, legal separation, or domestic violence restraining order case.

There are two types of spousal support

Temporary spousal support: An order for payments to a spouse before your case is final. You can ask for a temporary support order as soon as you file the case.

Temporary spousal support

Long-term spousal support: Support orders made at the end of the case (for example, in a Judgment). These are also called permanent support orders.

Long-term spousal support

Spousal and domestic partner support are difficult legal issues

We have information on this site to help you, but you may need more help.

 A lawyer or your court's family law facilitator can help you:

• Calculate spousal or domestic partner support
• Figure out how long the support may last and how it may affect your taxes
• Prepare court forms

Related topics

 

Taxes and spousal support 

Collecting spousal support 

Paying spousal support 

Child support 

  Was this helpful? Yes No did this information help you with your case? Great! Anything you can share about what made it helpful? Sorry to hear that! What would make this more helpful? Any Additional Feedback? Email (optional) CAPTCHA This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions. Leave this field blank Was this helpful? success alert banner:

Have a question about Divorce?

Look for a "Chat Now" button in the right bottom corner of your screen. If you don’t see it, disable any pop-up/ad blockers on your browser.