Alimony

Alimony Lawyers in Columbia, Maryland

THE LAW

When parties are going through the divorce process, either spouse may request alimony, also known as spousal support. This includes requesting alimony on a pendente lite (temporary) basis prior to the final hearing.

Alimony factors considered by the court in determining if alimony should be granted include, but are not limited to:

  • respective income levels
  • age of each party
  • the ability of the spouse seeking alimony to become self-supporting
  • length of the marriage
  • standard of living of the parties during their marriage
  • any special needs of the parties and its impact on employment, assets, financial resources and expenses
  • any agreements entered by the parties
  • financial needs and resources of each party
  • contributions of each party, whether monetary or non-monetary, to the well-being of the family

The basis for divorce is considered by the court in determining alimony; however, fault does not guarantee alimony.

Alimony is viewed as a rehabilitative measure for a limited time period; however, it may be awarded for an indefinite period if termination would be unconscionable.

There are alimony guidelines in Maryland, but they are not statutorily mandated as they are in child support determinations. However, the guidelines can provide helpful guidance in conjunction with an analysis of each party’s income and expenses.

The law does recognize two circumstances when a court may award indefinite alimony:

  • When the party requesting alimony cannot reasonably become rehabilitated and be self-supporting because of age, illness, infirmity, or disability.
  • When the party seeking alimony, after making as much progress to become self-supporting as possible, results in an unequal standard of living of the parties. Rehabilitative alimony may be extended to avoid this issue.

Generally, alimony can only be awarded prior to the entry of a Judgment of Absolute Divorce. Parties may choose to waive alimony prior to the entry of a Judgment of Absolute Divorce; however, once alimony has been waived and the divorce has been finalized, the party who has waived alimony is not able to later come back and seek alimony from the court.

ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY FLAG

Since alimony is not statutorily mandated, a party seeking alimony needs an experienced attorney who understands the factors that weigh into an alimony determination and can effectively articulate those factors to the court, if necessary. FLAG attorneys are experienced in dealing with the many different aspects of alimony cases. Our attorneys will take the time necessary to communicate with you and determine your needs and the financial impact a divorce will have on your quality of your life.

Call our office (410) 884-0400 to schedule an Initial Consultation to discuss your legal rights.

Click to read our Blog articles on Alimony. 

Our Testimonials

Read What Our Clients Have to Say
  • "Ms. Laynor was extremely knowledgeable, personable, and thorough throughout the time we worked together."
    Kimberly
  • "Emily was fantastic to work with! She walked me through every step along the way and made sure I was comfortable with what was happening. She is patient, kind, and understanding but also fights for what her client deserves."
    Becky
  • "Ms. Thomas was a pleasure to work with during my case. She was an excellent advocate for my son and won my case for him. He now has all the help he needs in school because of her determination."
    Toula
  • "Sarah has the unique ability to get right to the point and tell it ” like it is” while also being sensitive and considerate, which means that she isn’t wasting time and racking up needless billable hours."
    Janine
  • "Anne Kelly Laynor was extremely prepared and always in control of the situation. Most importantly for me though, she was a calming force during an extremely emotional time. I feel extremely lucky and even grateful to have had her by my side."
    Former Client
  • "Anna Lindner walked me through the roughest time in my life. She was patient, understanding, resourceful, responsive, and comforting while also being my strength and confidence. She was aggressive when she needed to be and fought for what I deserved."
    David
  • "Anna Lindner was very helpful through the entire process, professional and very responsive."
    Amanda

Contact Us

Schedule a Consultation
  • Please enter your first name.
  • Please enter your last name.
  • Please enter your phone number.
    This isn't a valid phone number.
  • Please enter your email address.
    This isn't a valid email address.
  • Please make a selection.
  • Please enter a message.