The Who, What, When, and Why of Alimony in Maryland

 Posted on December 29, 2025 in Divorce

Divorce has a major impact on a family’s income and socioeconomic status. Research from the University of Michigan suggests that many people are at greater risk of living in poverty after divorce. This doesn’t necessarily mean that divorce is the wrong choice. But it does make alimony (or spousal support) very important for many people – especially mothers of young children.

Understanding how alimony works in Maryland can help you prepare for divorce in 2026. Our Anne Arundel County, MD divorce attorneys have over 50 years of combined experience handling the full range of family law issues, including alimony disputes.

What Exactly is Alimony?

Alimony is money that one spouse pays to the other after a divorce. The purpose is to help the lower-earning spouse maintain a reasonable standard of living while adjusting to life after marriage.

Maryland courts can award three types of alimony:

• Temporary alimony, also called alimony pendente lite, provides support while the divorce is still in progress.

• Rehabilitative alimony helps a spouse become self-supporting through education or job training over a set period of time.

• Indefinite alimony continues without a specific end date and is reserved only for certain situations.

Indefinite alimony is not very common in 2026. Under Maryland Family Law Article Section 11-106, a court may award indefinite alimony only if it finds that the spouse seeking support will not be able to become self-supporting. The court may also award indefinite alimony if the standards of living between the two spouses would be "unconscionably different" even after the receiving spouse becomes as self-supporting as possible.

Why Does Alimony Exist?

Alimony exists because under the law, marriage is an economic partnership. For example, two people may agree that when they have children, one spouse will stay home or work less to be the children’s primary caregiver. This arrangement works well for many couples, especially in 2026 when the cost of childcare is so high.

But when a couple like this divorces, the spouse who has worked less or not at all is at a major disadvantage. The other spouse who continued working may have advanced in their career, earned promotions, and built retirement savings. The other spouse may have limited work history or outdated job skills.

Alimony recognizes that every spouse contributes to a marriage in their own way. If necessary, alimony payments give a lower-earning spouse time and resources to get back on their feet. Without alimony, many people would face sudden poverty after decades of marriage through no fault of their own.

Who Gets Alimony in a Maryland Divorce?

Either spouse can ask for alimony in Maryland. It is not only for women and the court does not automatically favor one gender over the other. 

Instead, the judge looks at a list of factors to decide whether alimony is appropriate and how much to award. These factors include:

• How long you have been married

• The standard of living during your marriage

• How much money each of you makes

• Any other financial resources you have

• Whether you can support yourself without alimony 

• Your and your spouse’s age and health 

• Your contributions to the property you own together

• Why you are getting divorced

Not everyone who asks for alimony will get it. Shorter marriages with two working spouses often result in no alimony or only a short period of support. Longer marriages where one spouse stayed home or earned significantly less are more likely to result in alimony awards.

When Can Alimony Payments Be Changed or Ended in Maryland?

Alimony is not always permanent. Rehabilitative alimony ends on a specific date set by the court. Indefinite alimony can also end under certain circumstances. In Maryland, alimony typically ends when either spouse dies or when the spouse receiving alimony remarries.

If you are paying alimony, you can also ask the court to modify or terminate alimony if there has been a significant change in circumstances. This might include:

• Losing your job

• Retirement

• A major change in income for either party

• Proof that your spouse is living with a new partner

If you are paying or receiving alimony and your situation has changed, you should speak with a family law attorney about whether a modification is possible. Courts will not change alimony simply because one party is unhappy with the arrangement; you must show that something meaningful has changed since the original order.

Call a Columbia, MD Alimony Lawyer Today

Alimony can be one of the most contested issues in a Maryland divorce. Whether you need support or expect to pay it, you need a good lawyer. Our Anne Arundel County family law attorneys at Zide Law Group, LLC have over 50 years of combined experience. 

We handle all types of divorce matters. Call 410-760-9433 to schedule a consultation.