Divorce is a very difficult and complicated time in someone’s life.

If you’re going through a divorce, it’s always best to contact an experienced attorney who can give you legal advice and explanations throughout the process.

One example of a tricky factor in divorce is alimony. Alimony is a monetary award payable by one spouse to the other when that spouse shows financial need or if the court approves it for other reasons. In Maryland, the court will expect both spouses to become self-supporting but the goal of an alimony award is to maintain the standard of living each spouse was accustomed to during the marriage.

The courts in Maryland will acknowledge several types of alimony:

• temporary,
• short-term and long-term
• or permanent.

Temporary lasts only during the divorce proceedings which means once the case is over, alimony is terminated.

Short-term is for a limited time following a divorce and could possibly move to a permanent term when one spouse shows that he or she will not be able to become self-supporting. It’s always best to talk to a divorce attorney who can explain the factors that go into a court’s decision.

For example, a judge will look at the length of the marriage, the couple’s standard of living during the marriage, each spouse’s age and mental and physical condition, the financial needs and financial resources of each spouse, the requesting spouse’s ability to become self-supporting, each spouse’s contribution to the marriage among others.

Alimony will end when the recipient spouse remarries, either spouse dies, or the court finds changes in circumstances.

Divorce is a difficult and complicated procedure. It’s always best to contact an experienced Maryland divorce lawyer who can explain all the nuances to you and which one you qualify for.