Unless and until a court orders spousal support (alimony), neither spouse is legally obligated to pay support to the other. If a divorce case is filed it is possible for a spouse to seek temporary spousal support during the divorce, and an award of support at the conclusion of the divorce. But a spouse should expect that payments made before a divorce is filed, or before support is actually ordered, are likely to be treated by the divorce court as a gift to the other spouse.

