Defining Spousal Support in Maryland

Defining spousal support in Maryland is important since each state has its own laws regarding divorce. Spousal support, as defined in Maryland, would be termed alimony, or family emergency maintenance, or family support. Since there are many nuances to spousal support agreements, you should seek immediate legal help. A local spousal support attorney could help you understand the elements of your divorce as well as your legal options.

Does Maryland Use The Term Alimony Or Spousal Support?

Maryland uses the terms alimony, spousal support, and others, such as family maintenance, emergency family maintenance, and family support. Alimony and spousal support are interchangeable, but it is best to use the word alimony if a party is getting divorced and if they are waiving alimony.

There are usually family expenses while the case is in litigation, and they are paid by one party, which may not necessarily be considered as alimony. Additionally, alimony from the payer is no longer considered income to the payee, so the defining name of spousal support does not matter.

Is Alimony Deductible?

In the State of Maryland, spousal support is no longer deductible by the payer spouse, and it is no longer considered income to the payee spouse. Therefore, it is just like child-support payments, which are paid to the custodial parent and are not considered income to that parent. It is much more difficult now to get alimony in the State of Maryland because it used to be a benefit to a spouse paying alimony that he or she could deduct the amount paid from their income and therefore get a tax benefit, but now there is no tax benefit to the payer.

Schedule a Consultation with a Spousal Support Attorney

Spousal support issues arise between married couples in Maryland, mostly in cases in which there is one party, one spouse, who is the primary breadwinner or the primary supporter of the family. Spousal support only becomes an issue  when the parties separate or divorce since that is the time the dependent party will not be able to support themselves. Defining and understanding the nuances of spousal support in Maryland is crucial during a divorce.

It is very important for a person to work with a spousal attorney in Maryland because, unlike child support, there is no specific calculation or software that could be run that could tell the court this is the right number for alimony. It is case-by-case dependent on the circumstances of the parties, and it means having an attorney represent them in court to be able to advocate for their particular situation. A knowledgeable attorney will know what factors are needed to prove to the court to show that the party either needs alimony or does not, which is extremely important in navigating a case of spousal support. Call today to get started on your case.