While spouses in Texas generally do not receive spousal support aside from child support, some divorce decrees provide for spousal maintenance. These orders are restricted to a period of time that depends on the specific circumstances. Thus, a former spouse may be ordered to pay the other spouse a certain amount of money for a specific number of months or years after the divorce. It’s up to the court to determine how long spousal maintenance will last, and how much the former spouse will receive.
Maintenance orders can be modified when either former spouse shows a material and substantial life change. For example, the court may reduce spousal maintenance if the former spouse receiving maintenance finds employment or overcomes a disability. If the former spouse paying maintenance has their income reduced, it can also lead to adjustments in spousal maintenance.