Practice Areas: Alimony
In Maryland, there are three basic types of alimony. These are temporary alimony, rehabilitative alimony, and indefinite alimony. Although typically the seeking of alimony is in connection with a divorce case, while the person seeking the alimony must be a spouse, a divorce case is not required to seek alimony and in some instances an alimony case can and should be brought even if a divorce case is not being pursued at that time.
Temporary alimony is the seeking of alimony payments while the case is in the process of being litigated. Typically, a divorce case takes many months to complete, and the person seeking temporary alimony needs to have money to live on during that time. To obtain temporary alimony, the person seeking it shows the need of the person for the alimony to live on while the case is being litigated and the ability of the spouse to pay the temporary alimony.
The basic concept of rehabilitative alimony is for the paying spouse to provide money for a specified length of time for the receiving spouse to live on after the divorce while the receiving spouse is in the process of the transition to being self supporting. An example of this would be a spouse who had been out of the work force for a number of years and would need to gain additional education or training to be able to rejoin the work force in a decent paying job. The length of time of the rehabilitative alimony would be determined by the Judge given the various factors in the case. An extension of the length of time is possible if requested of the Judge before the alimony expires and the proper circumstances exist for the Judge to extend the alimony.
Indefinite alimony can be obtained if certain circumstances can be shown. The Court would need to determine that due to age, illness, infirmity, or disability the spouse seeking alimony can not reasonably be expected to make substantial progress toward becoming self supporting, or even after having made as much progress as can reasonably be expected the standards of living of the two spouses will be unconscionably disparate.
It can be quite confusing and complicated. Do you know the law? Do you know how the law applies to the facts of your case? Do you know the procedures you would have to follow, such as what papers to file and the rules of evidence, so that even after you get in front of the Judge you are able to show why you should get what you should get? Shouldn't you find out? Shouldn't you have someone to protect your rights and interests? Only an attorney can do so for you.
Since 1986, Donald J. Arnold has been successfully representing individuals concerning alimony. Mr Arnold is authorized to practice law in all state and federal trial and appeals courts covering Maryland. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland Law School, with honors, 1986, and was admitted to the Maryland Bar that same year, having passed the Bar Exam on the first attempt. He was admitted to the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland in 1987, the U.S. Court of Appeals (Fourth Circuit) in 1991, and the U.S. Supreme Court in 1993.
For more information or an appointment call (410) 838-2542 or toll free outside Harford County 1-888-808-0449. Mr Arnold prefers initial potential client contact to be by telephone or appointment in person, with use of e-mail being reserved for existing clients after an appropriate attorney-client relationship has been formally established.
Legalese translated into real people talk.
