You can use Spousal, Partner, or Family Support Order Attachment (form FL-343) to write out the details of your agreement. The question of whether you will need to pay alimony in addition to child support depends on your circumstances as presented to the court.California Family Code Section 3900 sets forth the obligation of parents to support minor children, in a manner suitable to the child's circumstances. Spousal support and child support are often ordered together in a divorce. All alimony in California is based on one spouse's need for support and the other spouse's ability to pay. Agreements must be fair and reasonable. 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. The official term in California is now spousal or partner support. You may still hear it referred to as alimony or spousal maintenance, however. Alimony and child support are both financial awards a judge can order one spouse to pay in a California divorce case.