What type of financial assistance may be provided to a spouse following divorce or separation?

Following a divorce or separation, spousal support is a type of financial assistance provided to a spouse to help them meet their financial needs, especially where there is a disparity in income or if one spouse has been economically disadvantaged due to the marriage. Spousal support is often intended to make financial arrangements fairer after a relationship ends, ensuring that both parties can continue to maintain a reasonable standard of living in light of the circumstances, including factors such as the length of the marriage, the roles each spouse played during the relationship, and the economic situation of both parties.

This support can be either temporary or permanent and is determined through negotiations between the spouses or through court proceedings. The goal is to alleviate any unfair economic consequences that might result from the separation.

While child support is a financial obligation to support children after a divorce, its purpose is distinct from that of spousal support, which specifically addresses the needs of the ex-spouses themselves. Equitable distribution and asset division refer to the fair division of marital property and assets during divorce proceedings but do not provide ongoing financial support. These concepts serve different functions within the context of divorce, focusing on the division of assets rather than the ongoing financial support of one spouse by the other.