NOTICE: None of these questions and answers constitute legal advice. To obtain legal advice, consult with an attorney. This is especially important in divorce and family law matters, in which outcomes are often peculiar to the particular facts and circumstances of the case.

What is alimony?

Alimony is the payment of money for support of a spouse or former spouse at stated periods (monthly or weekly, usually) during the joint lives of the parties so long as they are separated.

What is the difference between alimony and child support?

Alimony is paid to support a spouse or former spouse. Child support is paid to support minor children.

Is there a formula for determining alimony?

No.

What factors does a court consider in making an alimony award?

Here is a list of factors: (1) ability to be wholly or partly self-supporting, (2) time needed for education or training, (3) the ability of the party from whom alimony is sought to meet that party's needs while meeting the needs of the party seeking alimony, (4) family living standard.

In addition, the court looks at many of the same factors considered in making a monetary award. Here is a list of some of these factors: (1) the duration of the marriage; (2) the contributions, monetary and nonmonetary, of each party to the well-being of the family; (3) the circumstances that contributed to the estrangement of the parties; (4) the age of each party; (5) the physical and mental condition of each party; (6) any agreement between the parties; (7) the financial needs and financial resources of each party, including:(i) all income and assets, including property that does not produce income; (ii) any monetary award or use and possession award; (iii) the nature and amount of the financial obligations of each party; and (iv) the right of each party to receive retirement benefits.

What is the relationship between alimony and a monetary award?

Maryland courts have said that alimony and a monetary award are "significantly interrelated and largely inseparable," but that a monetary award is not a "form of nor substitute for" alimony. In other words, the court must consider the two issues together in order to achieve a fair result.

When does alimony start?

One can get retroactive alimony back to the date the complaint or petition seeking alimony was filed.

How long does alimony last?

There is no statutory limit. The court can order alimony for a fixed length of time, or for an indefinite period. Even when the court orders alimony for a fixed length of time, the order can be modified to extend alimony for additional time, or for an indefinite period.

Why would the court order indefinite alimony?

The court may award alimony for an indefinite period, if the court finds that: (1) due to age, illness, infirmity, or disability, the party seeking alimony cannot reasonably be expected to make substantial progress toward becoming self-supporting; or (2) even after the party seeking alimony will have made as much progress toward becoming self-supporting as can reasonably be expected, the respective standards of living of the parties will be unconscionably disparate.

What does "unconscionably disparate" mean?

The Maryland Court of Appeals consistently has declined to adopt a hard and fast rule regarding any disparity in income for purposes of awarding indefinite alimony. Each case depends upon its own circumstances. However, gross disparities in income levels frequently have been found unconscionable, and have supported the award of indefinite alimony.

Even economic self-sufficiency does not bar an award of indefinite alimony if there nonetheless exists an unconscionable economic disparity in the parties' standards of living after divorce. In short, the determination of unconscionable disparity is made on a case-by-case basis.

Can an alimony award be modified?

Yes. The court can modify an alimony award upon a showing of a substantial change in circumstances justifying a modification.

Are there circumstances in which a court cannot modify alimony?

Yes. Under Maryland law, a court cannot modify alimony if an agreement of the parties specifically states that the provisions with respect to alimony or spousal support are not subject to any court modification.

Is alimony taxed as income?

Yes, unless the parties agree that alimony will not be deductible, alimony is taxable to the payee and deductible by the payor, provided it meets the tax code's definition of alimony (see a lawyer or tax advisor about the definition).