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Spousal Maintenance (Alimony)

Quick Facts
  • Alimony is spousal maintenance in MN law.
  • Spousal maintenance may be temporary or permanent.
  • Spousal maintenance may be modified under certain circumstances.

Maintenance is a money award ordered by the court in a dissolution or legal separation proceeding. The payments are made from the future income or earnings of one spouse for the support and maintenance of the other.

Alimony

Alimony is the deprecated term for spousal maintenance. Alimony is no longer used in modern law, but many people still use the term in everyday language. If you hear your attorney or the judge use the term alimony, then he or she is very likely talking about spousal maintenance.

For further information on spousal maintenance in Minnesota divorce law, see the following topics: