Attentive Advocacy Through Spousal Support Matters
Your marriage was as much a partnership as it was a marriage. Spouses have a responsibility to their former partner, even in a divorce. Spousal support (or alimony) can be a factor until your divorce is final. And, depending on the type of support needed, it could last longer. Stephen J. Kleeman, the lead attorney at the Law Offices of Stephen J. Kleeman, is highly skilled in family legal issues and the idiosyncrasies of Baltimore County divorce laws. Call my convenient Towson office if you need help managing spousal support issues.
Divorce can be an emotionally and financially difficult time. If an alimony claim is not included in the divorce decree, spouses probably will not be able come back to the court for an additional claim.
How Is Alimony Awarded?
It is based on maintaining living expenses. Trying to punish one of the spouses is not a factor. However, there are factors, including:
- Age
- Financial situation during/after marriage
- Length of marriage
- Physical/mental health
- Reasons for the divorce
- Standard of living
There Are Three Types Of Spousal Support
It is important to understand spousal support. It focuses on rehabilitation – intent on ensuring self-sufficiency for both former spouses. They get that by receiving spousal support until they complete education and training.
Rehabilitative Alimony
Short-term support ensures both spouses become financially stable. If one spouse stayed at home to care for the home and children, they require money to get skills to complete a degree or get training to become self-sufficient.
There are times when spouses are not able to achieve training or education needed to become self-sufficient and another type of support is considered.
Indefinite Alimony
Support intended to last for longer. It is used when one of the spouses cannot work (due to age or physical or mental limitations). It ensures the spouse’s standards of living are not far below their former spouse.
Reimbursement
Compensation is provided for education, training or career advancement that someone sacrificed while the other spouse trained for a more lucrative career. This type of support balances the scales, reimbursing the spouse who sacrificed. It ends when the court orders it to end.
Helping You Overcome The Complexities Of Spousal Support
Spousal support is not always awarded. As an experienced family lawyer, I understand what is needed for your spousal support claim. I can help if you disagree with a spousal support judgment. Call my Towson office at 410-494-1220 or visit our contact page.