Spousal maintenance

Alimony, often called spousal maintenance in Switzerland-related English, refers to financial support between spouses or former spouses. It may arise during separation or after divorce if one spouse cannot reasonably meet their needs and the other has the ability to pay. Swiss courts consider factors such as roles during the marriage, childcare, earning capacity, health, age, duration of marriage, and standard of living. It is distinct from child support, which belongs to the child’s needs. Amount and duration depend heavily on the individual circumstances.