Rockville Spousal Support Lawyer
Alimony Attorney Fighting for You in Montgomery County, Carroll County, Howard County & Frederick County
If you are going through a Maryland legal separation or divorce, you undoubtedly are concerned about how the change in marital status will affect your financial future. Whether you expect to receive spousal support or you expect to pay it, The Law Offices of Ellen L. Lee can assist you. We have decades of experience in helping clients arrive at a level of spousal support, also known as alimony, that is fair, sufficient, and realistic. Our family law attorney can pursue your best interests in this matter through negotiation, mediation, or in court.
Find out how we can help you navigate the issue of spousal support. Book your consultation at The Law Offices of Ellen L. Lee via our online request form or at (301) 417-5351.
Spousal Support in Maryland
Three types of alimony exist in Maryland:
Temporary alimony. Also known as pendente lite alimony, temporary alimony is available only while your divorce case remains open. Once your divorce becomes final, the amount of spousal support may change or stop altogether, depending on the terms of the divorce order.
Rehabilitative alimony. Rehabilitative alimony begins when the divorce becomes final and lasts for a finite period of time. The purpose is to give the spouse who needs support a reasonable time to become financially independent.
Indefinite alimony. Indefinite alimony is rarely granted with two notable exceptions:
- If your age, health, or disability status makes you incapable of becoming self-supporting;
- If you have made genuine efforts to become self-supporting, yet the relative standard of living of you and your spouse remains extremely lopsided (usually if the disparity is at least a 3:1 or 4:1 in income difference).
Courts rarely order indefinite spousal support. Most often, rehabilitative alimony is granted. At the Law Offices of Ellen L. Lee in Rockville, our alimony attorney can advise you about which type of support, if any, is likely to apply to your situation.
How Courts Determine Spousal Support Payments
Rockville courts and those throughout Maryland consider a number of factors when they decide whether a spouse should receive alimony, and if so, how much.
These factors include:
- Your ability to support yourself
- Your level of education
- Your need for additional education or training
- The standard of living during your marriage
- Length of your marriage
- Incomes of both spouses
- The age, physical, and mental health of both spouses
Additional factors may affect the alimony award in your case. The People’s Law Library of Maryland has developed an estimation resource. However, you should always consult a Maryland family attorney for the most accurate information. You will need an experienced lawyer to negotiate the appropriate level of spousal support. Our Rockville spousal support lawyer can represent those seeking as well as contesting alimony. If negotiation doesn’t work, we can argue your position before the court.
Get experienced guidance on Maryland spousal support from our lawyers. Contact us online or by calling (301) 417-5351 for a confidential consultation today.