Many people find interest in learning all there is to know about the legal system and all for a good reason: they or someone they know might be involved in a legal issue one day. Therefore, having as much knowledge about the criminal justice system can be beneficial. The more one knows, the more prepared they may be come time for their court date.

But do you know what alimony is? What about spousal support? You may already know what one or the other term is. However, now that you think about it, you might be curious how these two legal terms differ from one another. Since they’re too separate words, they must mean two different things, right? Not necessarily, but many people would think that.

How Does Alimony and Spousal Support Differ?

You might have thought that these two terms were completely distinct. However, in actuality, they’re synonymous, or in other words, they mean the same thing and are interchangeable. So, if someone is receiving alimony after a divorce, then they are receiving spousal support and vice versa.

The only difference one might be able to note with the terms alimony and spousal support is that alimony is an older term. Some might assume alimony is only granted to the ex-wife, which back in the day, it was often provided to. These days, however, many lawyers now use the term spousal support as not only is the term more transparent and easy to understand, but it’s also more gender neutral. After all, these days, married couples aren’t just excluded to a woman and a man. Not to mention, sometimes it’s the ex-husband who receives the financial support after the divorce.

Get Help with a Divorce in Chino Hills CA with Attorney Howell

Do you need spousal support, are you trying to fight your ex-spouse’s request for spousal support, or do you believe your current spousal support agreement needs to be readjusted based on pre-existing or new circumstances? In any of these cases, it’s a great idea to speak with a Family Law attorney as soon as possible to get your situation legally resolved.

Attorney Torrence L. Howell has had several years of experience in Family Law and has worked with divorce and alimony cases numerous times.

Contact Mr. Howell for a free consultation today by calling (909) 920-0908 if you reside in or around the area of Chino Hills, CA.