Spousal support—also known as alimony—can play a crucial role in your financial stability after divorce. In Bethesda, Maryland, these payments help one spouse maintain the lifestyle they were used to during the marriage, especially when there’s a major income gap between partners.
Whether you’re seeking support or being asked to pay it, the rules are strict and the timing matters. At Divorce With a Plan, we help clients navigate these decisions with clarity and care—so you can move forward with confidence.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step towards a brighter future.
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Spousal Support Laws in Bethesda, MD
Spousal support is where one spouse pays the other spouse to maintain the standard of living the receiving spouse had during the marriage. This is necessary where one spouse earned the bulk of the income while married. Usually, alimony will be temporary until the lower-income spouse can increase their income. But in some situations, alimony can be permanent or until situations change.
As a general rule, you must request alimony, and the judge must grant it before the final divorce decree or it won’t be enforceable. After the divorce is final, the spouse that may have qualified for spousal support can’t come back to court and ask for it. But, even after the divorce is final, the former spouse that’s paying alimony can go back to court and ask it to end the alimony requirement.
Spouses sometimes agree on alimony. If they sign an alimony agreement, the court is bound by that agreement. If the court decides on alimony, it’s usually only for monetary payments. The parties’ agreement can be broader than court orders. For example, a spousal support agreement might require one spouse to make the car payment or mortgage payment for the other spouse.
Alimony isn’t only for after the divorce is final. Judges may require it or you may agree to it during the term of a limited divorce or while an absolute divorce is pending.
Temporary vs. Permanent Spousal Support Orders
Spousal support requirements are usually temporary. Temporary spousal support falls into two categories: rehabilitative spousal support and pendente lite alimony.
Permanent or indefinite alimony is rare. It’s usually granted when, because of age or illness, you can’t make reasonable progress toward increasing your income. The court may also order indefinite spousal support if the difference in the former spouses’ incomes causes one spouse to have a much lower standard of living.
Permanent spousal support based on differences in income requires an extreme disparity. For example, if one spouse lives in a mansion while the other spouse only has sufficient income to live in a shack, the poorer spouse is likely to receive indefinite alimony.
If the lower-income spouse remarries and the new spouse is wealthy, that’s grounds for the paying spouse to petition the court for revocation of the alimony order.
What Qualifies As Spousal Support in Bethesda, MD?
Spousal support is monetary payments from one former spouse to another, or direct payments to creditors by one spouse for the benefit of another. To qualify as alimony, you must have signed the alimony agreement before the divorce is final, or the judge must have ordered it before the divorce is final.
Is Alimony Mandatory in Maryland?
Unlike child support, alimony is not required in Maryland. That’s why you need a good Bethesda spousal support attorney to make sure you get every penny you need to maintain your lifestyle for yourself and your children.
How Much Alimony Can a Spouse Get in Maryland?
There isn’t a formula to determine how much spousal support is necessary in Maryland. Alimony comes either at the agreement of the parties or through an order at the discretion of the judge.
To determine how much alimony you should receive, if any, the judge will consider factors including:
- How long your marriage lasted
- Your financial situation before and after the marriage ended
- Your age and health
- Why you’re getting a divorce
How a Bethesda Spousal Support Attorney From Divorce With a Plan Can Help You
You’re more likely to receive alimony if the marriage lasted a long time. Young people that are in good health are less likely to receive alimony. If the divorce is occurring because you committed adultery or spousal abuse, you’re less likely to receive alimony, whereas your former spouse is more likely to receive alimony.
At Divorce With a Plan, Josephia Rouse and her senior attorneys have over 30 years of combined experience in family law. Our success is based on the careful plans we create with our clients. There’s no one-size-fits-all family law matter. We thoroughly analyze each case and craft a clear plan for your success.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still ask for alimony after my divorce is final?
No. In Maryland, alimony must be requested before the divorce is finalized. If you don’t ask for it during the case, the opportunity is lost—even if your circumstances later change.
What kinds of spousal support are available in Maryland?
There are three main types: pendente lite (temporary support while the case is ongoing), rehabilitative (short-term support to help a spouse become self-sufficient), and indefinite (long-term or permanent support, which is rare and based on specific conditions like age, illness, or extreme financial disparity).
Does the court always decide on alimony?
Not always. You and your spouse can reach your own agreement, and as long as it’s signed and submitted before the divorce is final, the court will usually honor it. These agreements can be more flexible than court-ordered support.
What does the judge consider when deciding alimony?
Maryland judges look at multiple factors: length of the marriage, each spouse’s income and assets, age, health, and the reasons for the divorce. Every case is different, and outcomes can vary based on these details.
Will I automatically get alimony if I earned less during the marriage?
Not necessarily. Earning less is one factor, but it’s not a guarantee. You may need to show how the marriage affected your earning capacity and how support would help you regain independence.
Can spousal support orders be changed later?
Yes, under certain conditions. If the receiving spouse remarries or either party has a significant change in financial circumstances, the court may modify or end the support order.
How is spousal support different from child support?
Child support is mandatory and follows strict guidelines based on income and custody arrangements. Spousal support is discretionary—meaning it’s up to the court or both parties to decide, and it must be requested before the divorce is final.
Contact Divorce With a Plan Today
In Bethesda, Maryland, if you don’t ask for alimony while the case is pending, you do not get spousal support. Don’t make this or any of the other mistakes many parties make. Contact us today so we can get to work helping you.
You can reach us online or call us at (240) 269-3592.
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