An alimony lawyer is an attorney who primarily deals with legal issues related to divorce and alimony. Also called maintenance or spousal support, alimony is a monetary allowance given to one spouse by the other spouse, usually granted by a court during a divorce. Alimony differs from child support, which is a payment made to help pay for the needs of a child. In contrast, alimony gives financial support to a spouse in the event of a divorce. The spouse who is determined to be the family's chief financial provider will generally be the one to pay alimony. An alimony lawyer should be consulted in order to better understand a person's legal rights when it comes to alimony. Any concerns will have to be addressed by following the rule of law in a person's state, and therefore the guidance of an attorney is recommended.