Can temporary spousal support, as required by California law, be deducted in the same way as alimony after a divorce has been settled? If not, how else?

[mail3]

I paid temporary spousal support for more than 6 months in 2017, but we do not have a written agreement regarding amount or modalities.  Can I claim this as a deduction the same way as if we had an agreement or a divorce?

[Anita01]

If you have no court order or decree or other type of written separation agreement, the payments would be voluntary and not be deductible. 

https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc452