What is alimony? Alimony in North Carolina is an order for payment for the support and maintenance of a spouse or former spouse, periodically or in a lump sum amount for a specified or indefinite term, ordered in an action for divorce or an action for alimony without divorce. N.C. Gen. Stat. §50-16.1A(1). Alimony is not automatically awarded in divorce proceedings.  The court must first determine that one spouse is Read More