Baltimore Alimony Lawyer
Gone are the days when any divorce automatically results in the husband being ordered to pay a lump sum or monthly amount to the wife for ongoing support. Today, if a divorcing spouse – husband or wife – asks the court for an alimony award, that party must be able to prove the need for spousal support and justify the amount requested. The other spouse, meanwhile, may challenge that request and argue against a certain amount of alimony or any award at all. Whichever side you are on, Baltimore alimony lawyer Hasson D. Barnes can provide strong, effective representation to help you achieve a fair and positive outcome regarding alimony in a contested divorce.
Two Types of Alimony in Maryland
Maryland divorce law recognizes two different types of alimony which may be ordered in a divorce. These two categories are Rehabilitative Alimony and Indefinite Alimony.
Rehabilitative Alimony – This is the kind of alimony most often awarded in a Maryland divorce. Rehabilitative alimony is granted for a defined amount of time, somewhere between two and ten years, to give the receiving spouse a sufficient amount of time to get the education or employment needed to become self-supporting.
Indefinite Alimony – Though granted less frequently, the court can also order that alimony be paid indefinitely, with no set period for termination of payments. Indefinite alimony may be granted for a spouse who cannot be expected to become self-supporting due to some circumstance such as age, illness or disability. Indefinite alimony may also be appropriate where the difference in standard of living between the divorcing spouses is considered “unconscionably disparate.”
When deciding whether to grant alimony, what kind, what amount and for how long, the court may consider a number of different factors. Common factors include:
- The duration of the marriage
- Each spouse’s age and health
- Whether each spouse can become self-supporting
- The standard of living established during the marriage
- Each spouse’s contributions to the household during the marriage
Baltimore divorce lawyer Hasson D. Barnes can assist you by presenting evidence to the court which supports your position regarding each of these factors and other factors which may have a bearing on an alimony award. We maintain a strong client focus and attention to detail to get achieve a favorable result when it comes to alimony or other issues in your divorce.
Help is Available for Baltimore Divorce and Alimony Issues
For help with alimony or other matters in your divorce, call the Law Office of Hasson D. Barnes at 443-423-0548 to speak with an experienced and dedicated Baltimore alimony lawyer.
