Another topic that comes up is the difference between alimony and alimony pendente lite. Alimony pendente lite, often called “APL” for short, refers to payments that the higher income spouse must make to the other spouse to cover his or her costs of litigation, which are attorney’s fees. If the spouse who files for divorce is the lower income spouse, he or she often requests APL in the divorce complaint. It can also be requested separately.Related to APL is spousal support. Pennsylvania law requires that husbands and wives support each other. This duty continues even after spouses separate, and lasts until a divorce decree is issued. As with APL, a claim for support can appear in the divorce complaint or can be filed separately.