Aliment, in

Scots law Scots law () is the List of country legal systems, legal system of Scotland. It is a hybrid or mixed legal system containing Civil law (legal system), civil law and common law elements, that traces its roots to a number of different histori ...

and in other civil systems, is the sum of money paid, or allowance given in respect of the reciprocal

obligation An obligation is a course of action which someone is required to take, be it a legal obligation or a moral obligation. Obligations are constraints; they limit freedom. People who are under obligations may choose to freely act under obligations. ...

of parents and children, husband and wife, grandparents and grandchildren, to contribute to each other's

maintenance The technical meaning of maintenance involves functional checks, servicing, repairing or replacing of necessary devices, equipment, machinery, building infrastructure and supporting utilities in industrial, business, and residential installa ...

. The term ''aliment'' is also used in regards to a similar obligation of other parties, as of creditors to imprisoned

debt Debt is an obligation that requires one party, the debtor, to pay money Loan, borrowed or otherwise withheld from another party, the creditor. Debt may be owed by a sovereign state or country, local government, company, or an individual. Co ...

ors, the payments by parishes to paupers, etc. Alimentary funds, whether of the kind above mentioned, or set apart as such by the deed of a

testator A testator () is a person who has written and executed a last will and testament that is in effect at the time of their death. It is any "person who makes a will."Gordon Brown, ''Administration of Wills, Trusts, and Estates'', 3d ed. (2003), p. ...

, are intended for the mere support of the recipient, and are not attachable by

creditor A creditor or lender is a party (e.g., person, organization, company, or government) that has a claim on the services of a second party. It is a person or institution to whom money is owed. The first party, in general, has provided some propert ...

References

Scots law legal terminology Law of obligations Scots family law Child support {{Scotland-law-stub

See also

References