Family law courts focus on equitable divorce settlements that can include dependent spousal maintenance (also known as alimony) – particularly when your marriage is considered longer-term. JGL advises on all aspects of alimony – whether representing the lower wage earner, dependent or primary wage-earning spouse.
JGL’s alimony attorneys represent clients in all aspects of marital dissolution. Although there are no formulaic guidelines, we know how judges review and calculate alimony both in Maryland and Washington, DC We will guide you through the myriad of options when it comes to health insurance for dependent spouses that are no longer able to be included on employer family plans as well as the complexities associated with COBRA. We are experienced and understand the evidence needed to obtain rehabilitative alimony allowing dependent spouses the opportunity to receive education, training, or gain work experience prior to entering the workforce.
Types of Alimony
Maryland has three types of alimony.
Permanent alimony is an award that is made for the life of the recipient, or until the recipient remarries. This is usually granted in the dissolution of long-term marriages where one spouse has been working in the home without an outside career, or in the case of a disabled or ill spouse. It is also awarded when one spouses’ standard of living is much higher than the others’.
Temporary Alimony (also known as Alimony pendente lite) is temporary in nature and awarded to either spouse during the process of divorce.
In the case of long-term marriages where it is likely that the recipient spouse can benefit from education or training, rehabilitative alimony is granted for a period of a few years to enable the spouse with the lower income to better provide for themselves. In most instances, rehabilitative alimony is offered for 3-10 years.
How Spousal Support is Determined in Maryland
Alimony is awarded, not automatic. Usually alimony will only be considered when a long-term marriage ends and there is a vast disparity between the parties’ incomes. However, the courts do consider many factors, including individual income, the education and health of both parties, the potential earning power of each spouse, the possessions/estates of each, as well as the standard of living maintained during the marriage.
Fighting For the Alimony You Deserve
Since there are no state guidelines for alimony, it is critically important that you have an alimony attorney who can thoroughly evaluate complex financial matters and negotiate the best outcome for your individual situation.
If you are ordered to pay an unfair amount of alimony, it is possible to contest the award, or file for a reduction should your financial circumstances change, or your health decline. Discuss the process and benefits of doing so with your attorney. Some people return to their divorce attorneys, but you are free to consult with any family lawyer for post-decree petitions.
Tax Laws and Alimony in Maryland
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 made alimony tax neutral. So, if you receive alimony, you are not required to pay taxes on those funds. Conversely, if you pay alimony it is not tax-deductible.
Work with a Maryland Alimony Attorney
What matters to you, matters to us. For over five decades, JGL family law attorneys have fought to improve the future of families, the arc of careers, the success of business, and your most basic human rights. The attorneys of JGL take your business, family, and personal issues as personally as you do. We relentlessly pursue the outcomes you desire. If you need guidance from a Maryland alimony attorney, contact JGL.
