These are all the same thing — payments made by one spouse to the other after divorce. The terminology varies by state: some states say “alimony,” others say “spousal support,” others say “spousal maintenance” or simply “maintenance.” The legal concept is identical regardless of what it’s called.

A significant number of states still consider marital fault including Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia. In some of these states — particularly South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia — adultery by the recipient spouse can completely eliminate the right to receive alimony.

Only a handful of states use a clear statutory formula: Illinois (33.3% of payor’s net minus 25% of recipient’s net), New York (20% of payor’s income minus 25% of recipient’s), and Texas (lesser of $5,000/month or 20% of payor’s gross). California and Massachusetts have advisory guidelines. Most other states leave it entirely to the judge’s discretion.

Rehabilitative alimony is time-limited support given to help the lower-earning spouse retrain, finish education, or re-enter the workforce. It is the most common type awarded today. Most states prefer rehabilitative alimony over permanent alimony. It typically lasts 1–5 years, depending on how long it’s expected to take the recipient to become self-supporting.

Permanent alimony still exists in many states but has been significantly restricted in recent years. Florida nearly abolished it in 2022–2023. Texas effectively caps it. Kansas limits it to 121 months. Indiana restricts most maintenance to 3 years. In states where permanent alimony still exists, it is typically reserved for very long marriages (20+ years) where one spouse cannot realistically become self-supporting due to age, health, or long absence from the workforce.