§ 680.365.Spousal Support

Title 9. Enforcement of Judgments · Division 1 · Chapter 1. Short Title and Definitions · Enacted 1982 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 28, 2026

In one sentenceSection 680.365 clarifies that wherever the Enforcement of Judgments Law uses the term spousal support, that term also includes support owed to a former spouse, extending any spousal-support-specific protection or procedure to post-divorce support obligations.

Full Text of § 680.365

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"Spousal support" includes support for a former spouse.

Plain-English Summary

Support obligations do not end just because a marriage has. This section makes sure the term "spousal support," wherever it appears in the Enforcement of Judgments Law, reaches support owed to a former spouse after divorce, not only support paid during an ongoing marriage.

The reasoning parallels § 680.145's treatment of child support and family support: certain EJL provisions single out support judgments for distinct treatment -- different rules on how long they remain enforceable, or more aggressive collection tools for arrears -- and this section makes sure that treatment reaches former-spouse support obligations as well, not just support paid between spouses who remain married.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does "spousal support" under this title cover support paid after a divorce is final?

Yes. Section 680.365 extends the term to include support for a former spouse, not just support paid during an ongoing marriage.

Why would the Enforcement of Judgments Law bother defining this term so broadly?

Because certain enforcement provisions treat support judgments differently from ordinary money judgments, and this definition makes sure those protections extend to post-divorce support obligations as well.

Amendment History

Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 1364, Sec. 2. Operative July 1, 1983, by Sec. 3 of Ch. 1364.

Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature. Last verified July 28, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: spousal support definition california enforcementformer spouse support judgment california