compensatory payment
compensatory payment. Family law. A postmarital spousal payment made by the richer ex-spouse to the poorer one and treated as an entitlement rather than as a discretionary award. • Compensatory payments are set by statute and are based on a formula using the length of the marriage, differences in postdivorce income, role as primary caregiver, and other factors. The purpose is to compensate somewhat for disparate income levels after a failed marriage. Cf. ALIMONY.