Get a free consultation at 508-502-7002. Judges in Massachusetts can order four different types of alimony, including general term, rehabilitative, reimbursement, or transitional support.Under Massachusetts law, there are four different kinds of alimony. What's known as "general term alimony" is paid to the spouse who is financially dependent. Alimony, also referred to as "spousal support," is a court-ordered payment provided to one of the spouses in a compromising financial situation. In general, the amount of alimony awarded should not exceed the recipient's spouse's need. Alimony is defined as "the payment of support from a spouse, who has the ability to pay, to a spouse in need of support for a reasonable length of time," Laws Ch. 208 § 48) and is "grounded in the recipient spouse's need for support and the supporting spouse's ability to pay," Gottsegen v. The court determines whether the party paying child support can also pay spousal support. The aim of reimbursement alimony is to pay one spouse back for the support (financial or otherwise) that spouse provided during the marriage.