You can apply for spousal maintenance when you are divorcing your partner (or dissolving your civil partnership) and feel that you will not be able to manage financially, either because your standard of living will change drastically, or you will be put at a financial disadvantage. This may be due to your decision to forego a career to support your family and you now need time to develop your skills or to help you continue the standard of living you had prior to divorce or dissolution.
In Scotland, ongoing periodical allowances are rarely paid when a couple divorces or dissolves a civil partnership, as the courts normally impose a clean break principle. However, on some occasions periodical allowances may be awarded by the courts, where there are insufficient assets to be divided between both parties or the assets are inadequate to meet your needs.