Spousal support, sometimes referred to as alimony, is financial support paid from one spouse to another after divorce. Courts may award spousal support for a limited period, an indefinite period, or may choose not to award it at all. The purpose of spousal support is to help a lower-earning spouse maintain a certain standard of living. When one spouse earns significantly more than the other, spousal support can be one of the most highly contested issues in a divorce case.
Our experienced Frederick spousal support lawyers can help you understand your legal rights and options. Whether you need to establish or modify spousal support, our skilled family attorneys can guide you through the process.
Spousal support is a series of court-ordered payments from one spouse to another. Like child support, this may be structured as a monthly obligation. Spousal support is enforceable by the court, and failure to pay may result in contempt proceedings. When a party disputes support, the court can require one spouse to pay alimony to the other.
The law does not require spousal support in every case. For example, if both spouses are relatively equal financially at the end of the marriage, the court may determine that spousal support is not necessary. In some situations, one spouse might have been the primary earner during the marriage, with the education and career experience needed to support themselves after the marriage. The law uses alimony to help create a fair balance between both spouses in those cases. Our Frederick lawyers experienced with alimony agreements can assist with creating this balance.
When the parties dispute spousal support and they cannot reach an agreement, the court might have to decide. Under Maryland Code, Family Law, § 11-106, judges will consider factors such as:
During a contested spousal maintenance case in Frederick, our knowledgeable lawyers can investigate the facts and how they apply to each factor in your case.
Under state law, a court can grant indefinite spousal support when one spouse cannot reasonably support themselves or when the court finds a persistent earnings gap between the parties.
A court can modify or terminate spousal support if circumstances change materially, such as:
These and other circumstances can require the court to take another look at the spousal support order. One of the skilled attorneys at our Frederick office can help with modifying payments to a former spouse.
A knowledgeable Frederick spousal support lawyer can review your case and determine how spousal support could apply. Whether you seek spousal support or have concerns about paying alimony, our dedicated attorneys could help. Reach out today to schedule a consultation.
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