Often when couples separate, the father ends up working
full-time while the mother looks after the children, working
part-time or not at all. He may have access to regular earnings,
while she struggles to make ends meet. She may also bear the burden
of substantial living costs for the children. How can she get
help?
"Spousal maintenance" is the financial support paid by
one party to a marriage to the other where the other is unable
adequately to support him or herself. De facto partners may also
seek spousal maintenance.
The primary purpose of spousal maintenance is to level the
playing field between the incomes or earning capacities of spouses
and is based on their respective needs. It is usually ordered for a
relatively short period after separation (around two to three
years) to enable the recipient to re-train, find work or generally
re-establish themselves. It may be paid in a lump sum.
