Texas doesn't have so-called "alimony." In the Lone Star State, it is called "spousal support" or "spousal maintenance" and refers to money that one spouse pays to the other during or after divorce proceedings. Spousal support can be awarded to either spouse, and it is typically paid on a monthly basis. The purpose of alimony is to help the receiving spouse maintain his or her reasonable minimum needs after divorce. Spousal support may be awarded if: * The couple has been married for over 10 years and the requesting spouse does not earn enough income or have enough property to provide for basic needs. * The requesting spouse has a serious physical or mental disability that stops them from earning income to support themselves. * The requesting spouse is unable to work because he or she is the custodial parent of their child who needs substantive physical or mental support. * The requesting spouse suffered some sort of family violence at the hands of the supporting spouse within two years of the divorce filing or while the divorce was being processed