Alimentícia

Alimentícia, in civil and family law, refers to the legal obligation to provide financial support to a person who depends on another for basic living needs. The term is commonly used in divorce or separation proceedings and encompasses support for children, former spouses in some cases, and other dependents recognized by law.

Payments cover essentials such as housing, food, clothing, education, health care, and transportation. The amount is typically determined by a court or agreement, balancing the recipient's needs with the payer's ability to pay, the standard of living, and the number of dependents.

Alimentary obligations can be revised if circumstances change, for example due to a significant change in income, job loss, or changes in the recipient's needs. They may be established as a fixed term or as an ongoing duty, depending on local rules and the relationship between the parties.

Enforcement mechanisms vary by jurisdiction and may include wage withholding, asset seizure, or other compulsory measures to secure payment. Alimentary obligations may terminate when the recipient reaches legal adulthood or becomes emancipated, or upon death; spousal alimentícia typically ends with remarriage, death, or when conditions for support no longer apply.

Although term usage and rules differ among Portuguese-speaking countries, alimentícia generally denotes a financial duty intended to ensure the recipient's basic welfare as determined by law.