ARTICLE · 08 FEBRUARY 2026

Spousal Maintenance Guide 2026

Unified Lawyers

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The most common questions about spouse maintenance in Australia at our family law firm.

AustraliaFamily and Matrimonial

Anushka Pokharel

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Key Takeaways:

Spousal maintenance or spousal support in Australia is similar in concept to alimony in America. Alimony is an American legal term and is not used in Australia.
There is no set amount of how much a spousal maintenance payment is, instead it is dependent on the individual circumstances of the people involved in each case.
You can be eligible for spousal maintenance, even if you were not married. This is known as de facto maintenance.
Spousal maintenance isn't automatically guaranteed, it needs to be applied for.
You don't need a lawyer to apply for spousal maintenance, however, engaging a family lawyer can make the process easier and potentially more fruitful for you.

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