Difference between Maintenance and Alimony

Though often used interchangeably, maintenance and alimony differ in legal context.

Maintenance is a broader term referring to financial support given by one spouse to another (and sometimes to children or parents) during or after legal separation or divorce. It can be interim, monthly, or permanent and is covered under various personal laws and Section 125 of CrPC.

Alimony, on the other hand, usually refers to a lump-sum, one-time payment made after divorce, mostly in civil or divorce proceedings.

In short, alimony is a form of maintenance, but not all maintenance is alimony.