Alimony
English church courts awarded alimony in cases of separation and divorce. Alimony pendente lite  was given before the divorce decree, based on the husband's duty to support the wife during a marriage that still continued.  Alimony after the divorce was also based on the idea that church courts could not undo a marriage. They could only give a divorce a mensa et thoro,  which is similar to a legal separation today. As divorce did not end the marriage, the husband still had to support his wife.