Spousal Support and Maintenance

Temporary maintenance, or pendente lite maintenance, refers to an obligation which is in place while the divorce action is pending. The length of time that temporary maintenance is paid will be considered in determining the duration of post-divorce maintenance. Post-divorce or post-judgment maintenance (sometimes called “permanent maintenance” even if it is a fixed duration) refers to maintenance that is ordered to be paid starting with the entry of the final Judgment of Divorce. The amount of post-divorce maintenance may be the same or different than the amount of temporary maintenance.