Spousal maintenance (also known as alimony)
Under the Family Law Act, when your marriage ends, one party is liable to financially support the other party to the extent that they are reasonably able to do so if that other party is unable to adequately support themselves.
Spousal maintenance (also known as alimony) is separate to the concept of a “property settlement”. It is a one-off payment or ongoing periodic payments from one party to the other party, to assist the other spouse in supporting themselves after separation or divorce.