What Does an Alimony Attorney Do and Do You Need One?

An alimony attorney can help you with divorce and other family law matters. Learn what they do by reading this complete guide.

Alimony has recently been a topic of conversation, as Florida put a new law into effect to permanently end it.

Many states are following in these footsteps since alimony is becoming more rare and messy. Maryland allows alimony arrangements under specific conditions, which most people are unaware of. If you’re currently married, now is the time to learn about alimony and take action.

Read below to learn more about what an alimony attorney does to discover if our team can help your case!

Understanding Alimony

If you’re married and going through a divorce, the conversation of alimony might get brought up.

Alimony is essentially a contract that commits one spouse to make periodic payments to the other. The purpose of this contract is to help the recipient become more independent. Typically, this negotiation is set for a specified time and won’t last a lifetime, unless stated otherwise.

Depending on the arrangements, there might be conditions included in alimony. All of these conditions must be stated and agreed upon before the finalization of the divorce. This means that you can’t make adjustments or open a claim for alimony once the separation is legally processed.

Identifying the Different Types of Alimony

There are several types of alimony you should know about if you’re going through the process.

Rehabilitative alimony is the most common type to recieve or pay. These terms include a finite amount of time that’s clearly stated in the arrangements. Most rehabilitative alimony terms last for 2 years, but they can be extended further if necessary.

Infinite alimony is awarded on rare occasions since it doesn’t have a specified ending. When someone is unable to make progress with their standard of living, the award may be given. This is the only type of alimony that can be adjusted in the future if circumstances change.

Pendente lite is a legal term used to represent pending litigation. If you agree to pendente lite alimony, one spouse will start receiving payments while the divorce is ongoing. This is an excellent choice of alimony if a spouse can’t afford a divorce and legal fees before finalization.

It’s important to note that if you get pendente lite alimony, you aren’t guaranteed money after the divorce. Alimony will be reassessed before the divorce is complete, which may change the agreement. Until there is a court order, the legal obligationto make payments won’t go into effect.

What Can a Spouse Be Entitled To?

In Maryland, a spouse could be entitled to more than just money during alimony arrangements.

Depending on the contract, a spouse may get property rights, child custody, or inheritance rights. If these valid prenuptial contracts are still enforced, they won’t impact alimony. There will be an equitable distribution of property and rights given between spouses in court.

Periodic payments are the most common award given to alimony recipients. This money is meant to help individuals return to school and get back on their feet after the divorce. Our family law firm can ensure you get the compensation you need in this difficult situation.

While finalizing terms, the courts will look at the length of the marriage, both spouses’ financial situations, and age. Mental health and other instances of divorce may also factor into the decision. Blattner Law specializes in the divorce process, let us help guide you through the legal journey.

What Does an Alimony Attorney Do for Clients?

An alimony attorney can help with a variety of services when you’re negotiating arrangements.

Handling this process alone can become overwhelming. Laws and negotiations can be difficult to make if you aren’t getting legal guidance. Hiring a divorce lawyer will help protect your finances and lifestyle, even while your world is changing.

Before you agree to anything, a second opinion can help increase your confidence moving forward. Take a look below to learn about the most common responsibilities of an alimony lawyer.

Provide Expert Advice

One of the most frustrating parts about going through a divorce is that no one will give you advice.

When legal matters are in question, you can’t just ask anyone for your next steps. Our attorneys will supply you with a wonderful resource, they are knowledgeable in these types of court proceedings.

The advice you will recieve can pertain to your alimony eligibility. Whether you’ve decided to recieve or give payments or not yet, we can tell you about the advantages of each scenario. Exposure to similar cases helps our attorneys provide excellent service to clients.

Assist in Alimony Payment Negotiations

In a divorce, you should expect to be making negotiations in and out of the courtroom.

Alimony attorneys at Blattner make the negotiation process simpler and less confusing. With years of experience, you can trust that we won’t back down on your behalf and will try to get you the fairest terms possible. Handling negotiations is a delicate process, with many emotions, you don’t want to overlook anything.

Not only do our attorneys help negotiate how much the payments will be, but also the duration. Since Maryland allows rehabilitative and infinite support, you’ll want to know your best option.

Coordinate Alimony Termination

If either spouse dies or there is a fair reason brought to the court, alimony can be terminated.

Since it’s a legal contract, it won’t automatically end when someone passes away. Working with a divorce attorney in these events can make sure the proper paperwork gets filed and processed with the courts. A lack of legal info could impact the validity of the agreement and result in overpaying.

Terminating alimony is a complex process that requires in-depth knowledge of the legal system. Our attorneys work with Baltimore and Towson professionals to understand the local proceedings.

Who Qualifies for Spousal Support?

Someone going through a divorce who is unable to support themselves may qualify for alimony.

Alimony is awarded to specific individuals, and it’s not always easy to get. Below are some of the factors considered when making alimony arrangements. Whether you fall into these categories or not, contacting our team can help you find solutions.

Single Parents

Once the divorce is final, you can’t rely on your spouse financially.

Single parents can be awarded alimony, on top of child support payments. If you’re homeschooling or taking care of a child, instead of working, this is when alimony is given to spouses. Unless both parents agree to send the child to daycare, or school, or get a nanny, one of them needs to be with the child.

When single parents are awarded alimony, it helps them adjust to solo parenting without having a large impact on their child. This helps for smooth transitions during and after a divorce that don’t disrupt the family system even more.

Elderly Adults

Older adults tend to qualify for alimony payments since many of them aren’t in a condition to work.

Entering the workforce after years of retirement may not be an option during late divorces. Alimony attorneys work with elderly adults to prevent financial differences and difficulties. In these cases, you can be awarded indefinite money or recieve temporary payments.

Gray divorces are the separation of spouses over the age of 50. A gray divorce doesn’t have to end badly, especially when you want to make the most of your time. Our family law firm will consider all factors relating to alimony payments.

Chronically Ill Persons

The entire goal of alimony is to help someone become more self-sufficient after a divorce.

When someone is chronically ill, they could get indefinite alimony payments. Typically, clients aren’t able to work or care for themselves without financial support. Alimony payments prevent people from discontinuing treatment and medications.

An attorney can also help negotiate terms if someone making alimony payments becomes ill. As circumstances change, so may the alimony agreement.

Those with Disabilities

Developmental, physical, and mental disabilities may qualify someone for alimony payments.

Finding a new home and paying for treatments can be difficult after a divorce. People receiving disability checks are unable to make a certain amount of money, or they lose their benefits. Alimony payments are a great way to supplement income when working isn’t an option.

Talking to our team will help you determine if a temporary or long-term agreement is necessary. Since most disabilities are lifelong, these are the most common types of alimony payments to last until death. It’s also common to see property given to people with disabilities since they may not be able to get a home themselves.

Invest in an Alimony Attorney & Your Future

Regardless of which side of alimony payments you are on, an attorney can help you navigate the process.

An alimony attorney can help you make arrangements, follow the correct processes, and prevent errors. This is an excellent investment for your future, especially in times of uncertainty. By learning more about this process with our team, you can receive the best alimony terms available.

If you want to discover more about legal help at Blattner Family Law, take a look at our team and give us a call!