What is the difference between a Temporary Spousal Support Order and a Permanent Spousal Support Order?
Family LawBy Wail SariehLast Updated: September 16th, 2026
Let’s talk about temporary spousal support. Those orders are made by the court after someone requests the award of the support and before the final judgment. It is driven by income and need only. So someone has the need and someone has the ability. The party who has the ability will provide temporary spousal support for the party who has the need.
Permanent spousal support is a different story although most people confuse the two. Permanent spousal support are determined by the court at the final trial and they are based on multiple factors such as the length of the marriage, the age of the parties, the health of the parties, the earning capacity of each party, whether there has been a history of domestic violence, of course the income and assets of each party and any equitable factors such as devoted time for domestic duties to enable the other spouse to earn a degree. Those are the difference between temporary and permanent spousal support.
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Wail Sarieh (June 18, 2014). “What is the difference between a Temporary Spousal Support Order and a Permanent Spousal Support Order?”. Retrieved from https://sariehlawoffices.com/blog/difference-between-temporary-and-permanent-spousal-support-order/