Types of Alimony

There are four primary categories of alimony, organized by their purpose and duration, namely Temporary Alimony, Rehabilitative Alimony, Permanent Alimony, and Reimbursement Alimony.

Main Categories

• Temporary Alimony — awarded to support a spouse during the divorce process, typically ending when the divorce is finalized, as seen in the case of Katie Holmes, who received temporary alimony from Tom Cruise during their divorce proceedings.
• Rehabilitative Alimony — intended to help a spouse become self-sufficient, often through education or job training, with Tiger Woods' ex-wife Elin Nordegren receiving rehabilitative alimony to pursue her education.
• Permanent Alimony — ongoing support paid to a spouse, usually until the recipient remarries or dies, as in the case of Mel Gibson's ex-wife Robyn Moore, who received permanent alimony as part of their divorce settlement.
• Reimbursement Alimony — awarded to compensate a spouse for expenses incurred during the marriage, such as education or business investments, with Bristol Palin's ex-fiancé Levi Johnston ordered to pay reimbursement alimony for childcare expenses.

Comparison Table

How They Relate

The categories of alimony can overlap, with Temporary Alimony often leading to Rehabilitative Alimony or Permanent Alimony if the supported spouse requires ongoing support. Rehabilitative Alimony and Reimbursement Alimony can be confused due to their focus on supporting a spouse's financial well-being, but Rehabilitative Alimony is focused on future self-sufficiency, while Reimbursement Alimony is focused on past expenses. Specifically, Temporary Alimony and Permanent Alimony are often distinguished by their duration, with Temporary Alimony being shorter-term and Permanent Alimony being longer-term. In contrast, Rehabilitative Alimony and Reimbursement Alimony are distinguished by their purpose, with Rehabilitative Alimony focused on education or job training and Reimbursement Alimony focused on compensating for expenses.