Federal tax law mentions spousal support payments, not domestic partner support. 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.The question of whether you will need to pay alimony in addition to child support depends on your circumstances as presented to the court. Once your divorce case is concluded in California, your spouse cannot directly affect the California spousal support order through a motion in Texas. Are child support payments or alimony payments considered taxable income? Learn about the kinds of spousal support in California, how judges decide the amount and duration of alimony, and whether you can change the award later. An indepth look at how child support is calculated in California, including the formula, factors, and legal nuances. The longer answer is that both Texas and California have alimony laws (the official name is "spousal support or spousal maintenance"). If child support is an issue, spousal support is calculated after child support is calculated. Family law cases may trigger two different kinds of support payments – child support and spousal support.