Spousal support applies only to married couples.
Spousal support, also known as alimony, is money paid by one spouse to support the other. Usually the money is paid in monthly installments. Either the husband or the wife can be ordered to pay spousal support. Most spousal support orders are part of divorce or legal separation cases. But even if a divorce case has not been filed, a judge can order spousal support when a married person files a lawsuit that asks for support.