Spousal support (also known as alimony) is a court ordered payment from one spouse or domestic partner to help cover the other's monthly expenses. Temporary spousal support is court-ordered monthly payment from one spouse to the other while a family law case is on-going.The Santa Clara guidelines are often followed in California. Call (408) 601-4439 to speak with our spousal maintenance attorney. Initial consultations are provided at no cost. Wondering if cheating affects alimony in California? Get clarity on the impact of infidelity on spousal support with expert legal advice. When seeking spousal support, the lower earning spouse must first file a Request for Order asking that the Court award spousal support. Complete the fields below and press calculate to estimate alimony. The figures presented are based on legal California alimony guidelines.