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. It is broken down into two types: temporary and permanent.This page tells you about how to get an Order for Child Support. To get an order for child support, you must first file a case with the Court. Spousal support, also called alimony, is the payment that a court may order one spouse to pay another spouse when a couple gets divorced or separated. There are two types of spousal support – temporary spousal support and permanent spousal support. In the United States, either spouse may be ordered to pay alimony, not just a husband. And alimony is not routinely awarded anymore. Spousal support (also known as alimony in other states) may be an issue in a divorce, legal separation or termination of domestic partnership. Support paid regularly to an ex-spouse who is financially dependent on the former spouse.