Once a spousal maintenance figure has been agreed then it is sometimes possible to also agree to capitalise the spousal maintenance.
This means working out what lump sum figure you should receive instead of the normal periodic payments. The court will consider the size of the monthly payment and the expected period of time that it would be paid for - and come up with a lump sum equivalent.
Of course this is only possible in cases where there are enough assets in the pot for a lump sum payment to be made.
Capitalised Spousal Maintenance would normally imply that there is a clean break.