When it comes to alimony law, Maryland residents who are unfamiliar with the topic may have a lot of questions pertaining to various types of alimony and how or why a particular spouse might be required to pay it. One specific type of alimony that will be explained in preceding text is called rehabilitative alimony.
Rehabilitative alimony is a temporary form of spousal support. Generally, when courts award rehabilitative alimony to a divorced spouse, it is intended to assist the receiving spouse in getting back on his or her independent financial feet following the divorce. In some ways, rehabilitative and other types of alimony are a vital part of our legal system because they provide non-income-earning spouses with the financial freedom they need to end a toxic and/or abusive marriage.
In some marriages, one spouse will be the spouse who earns the income for the family while the other spouse takes care of home matters and possibly the children. In cases like this, where there is a dramatic income disparity, the lesser income-earning spouse may be able to win an award of rehabilitative alimony to pay for living expenses and education or training. The education and training is intended to help that spouse become more employable so that he or she can later provide financially for him or herself. This is why rehabilitative alimony is temporary. It is only intended to help the lesser moneyed spouse take the steps he or she need to become fully financially independent.
In order to determine if you or your soon-to-be ex-spouse might qualify for rehabilitative alimony in your Maryland divorce case, it is necessary to review the incomes of both spouses, non-marital assets, shared property, living standards maintained during the marriage and other vital information. Fortunately, individuals who are curious about rehabilitative alimony can seek assistance from a divorce attorney to help them navigate this often-complicated area of family law.
