Spousal support is a payment one spouse makes to the other after a divorce to help that spouse afford basic necessities. It is typically need-based and awarded only when the court sees a difference in income levels or potential hardship for one spouse after the divorce.
The Oregon Judicial Branch explains there are three types of spousal support you may seek in the state.
Spousal maintenance
Spousal maintenance is usually something a court will award if you had a long marriage. It is seen as a way for the spouse receiving the payments to maintain a style of living similar to that during the marriage. It may be in cases where the spouse will be unable to earn enough income to meet this level on his or her own.
Transitional
Transitional support is for a situation where one spouse is not yet ready to enter the workforce. He or she may need to get further training or complete education to be able to secure employment and handle his or her basic financial needs.
Compensatory
Compensatory support provides payments to a spouse who made contributions to the family that have helped the other spouse get to where he or she is today. A good example is a spouse who worked to put another spouse through school. Another example is a parent who stayed at home to raise the children while the other worked. In both cases, one spouse sacrificed for the other, and compensatory support repays that sacrifice.
All three options will still consider need and are available at the discretion of the court.