What Types Of Alimony Are Available In Maryland?
The State of Maryland affords a divorced spouse three different types of alimony, known as spousal support. These are: Temporary alimony (alimony pendente lite), rehabilitative alimony, and indefinite alimony. Temporary or alimony pendente lite is awarded during the divorce process to help the spouse maintain their financial status quo. Rehabilitative alimony allows the spouse to get money for continuing education or career training following a divorce. Indefinite alimony is awarded when one spouse cannot become self-supporting on their own because of their age or disability leading to unconscionably disparate lifestyles between the parties post-divorce. In this article, the Maryland divorce lawyers at Schlaich & Thompson, Chartered, will discuss the different types of alimony that are awarded in Maryland.
Alimony pendente lite
Alimony pendente lite is awarded while the divorce proceedings are pending. Its purpose is to provide temporary support to a spouse who may not be financially secure without it. The award is meant to help them maintain their standard of living while the divorce is being finalized. It terminates once the divorce has been finalized. The court may see fit to continue awarding alimony to the less financially secure spouse, or it can terminate the alimony award altogether.
Rehabilitative alimony
This is the most commonly awarded type of alimony in Maryland. Rehabilitative alimony is awarded for a specific amount of time. It allows the recipient spouse to become self-supporting by continuing their education or getting career training. The main idea behind rehabilitative alimony is that it helps the spouse get the skills necessary to support themselves and become financially independent. However, this type of alimony has a timer on it. It runs out after a specific amount of time.
To become the recipient of rehabilitative alimony, a spouse would be expected to present the court with a detailed plan that outlines how the alimony money is intended to be used so that they can become self-supporting. The plan must demonstrate to the court that the alimony award is temporary and serves a specific purpose. The purpose must align with the goals of the rehabilitative alimony plan. Its ultimate purpose is to help the spouse become self-supporting.
Indefinite alimony
When a spouse is unlikely to be able to support themselves due to their advanced age, illness, or a permanent disability, the court can award indefinite alimony to the spouse. The award offers ongoing financial support for an indefinite amount of time. The award terminates upon the death or remarriage of the recipient spouse. In addition to serious disability, the court can also consider an unconscionable income disparity between the spouses when awarding permanent alimony.
Talk to a Bel Air, Maryland, Divorce Lawyer Today
The Bel Air divorce lawyers at Schlaich & Thompson, Chartered, represent the interests of couples looking to untie the knot. Call our office today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin discussing your goals and concerns right away.
