Many types of court orders can come out of a Maryland divorce. One is an alimony award. When one person is ordered to pay alimony to another, how long does this obligation last?
It depends. For one, the specific terms of the alimony award have an impact on this front. Generally, among the things courts set in such an order is the period of time that alimony is to be paid.
Often, the order will contain a set termination date for the payments. However, there is an exception to this. In certain limited circumstances, courts can award alimony for an indefinite period.
There are a range of factors courts look at in determining the terms of an alimony award, including terms regarding the length of the award. So, whether a person is seeking alimony or is facing the possibility of paying alimony, there can be a wide range of different issues for him or her to touch on in the case he or she makes in alimony proceedings. Skilled family law attorneys can assist people here in Maryland with preparing for such proceedings.
Now, there are a couple of things that will generally automatically bring alimony to an end in Maryland. One is the death of either of the ex-spouses. The other is if the person receiving alimony remarries.
Also, courts can opt to terminate alimony earlier than what was specified in the order if they find that doing so is needed to prevent a result that is harsh or inequitable.