How Long Do You Have to be Married to Get Alimony?

Patrick Crawford | August 6, 2024

Alimony is a regularly occurring scheduled payment from one spouse to another in the event of a divorce. The purpose of alimony is to provide financial support to one spouse for a certain amount of time. The goal is for the spouse receiving alimony to eventually become self-supporting with the assistance of the temporary alimony payments. However, here’s a common question that we are going to answer, how long do you have to be married to get alimony?

Always consult an Annapolis alimony attorney to ensure you receive a fair alimony determination.

Alimony Determinations

There are different factors that can influence alimony eligibility. These include:

• The timing of when the alimony is requested.
• The age and health of each spouse.
• The reason that the marriage ended.
• The length of the marriage.
• Spousal earning and income capacity.

It is helpful to speak with an Annapolis divorce and alimony attorney in order to better understand the process, timing, and what will be expected of you when requesting alimony in the event of a divorce.

How Long Do You Have to be Married to Get Alimony?

When determining the length and the amount of alimony for one spouse of a divorcing couple, the courts will look at a number of factors including the financial needs of each spouse and the length that the marriage lasted.

There is no specific requirement for the length of the marriage in order to qualify for alimony in the state of Maryland, but those who have been married for just six months would not expect to receive the same amount as those who have been married for seven years.

The court typically awards one of these two types of alimony:

• Temporary alimony – the most common type of alimony that is meant to help the receiving spouse maintain financial support while they look for employment and get back on their feet after a divorce.
• Permanent alimony – this refers to ongoing, permanent alimony that does not have a time limit or expiration date, and typically, does not include work search requirements that the spouse receiving payments. Permanent alimony is not common and is typically offered to spouses who have been married for at least ten years or longer.

Maryland-Specific Guidelines for Alimony and Marriage Duration

There are specific guidelines for alimony in Maryland, and it is important to understand them in order to submit a proper claim. Timing is important. Typically, alimony will be awarded only before the marriage is legally dissolved. Therefore, if you do not make a claim for alimony as a part of your divorce, you will not be able to come back after the marriage has ended and initiate a claim for alimony.

Speak with an Experienced Annapolis Family Law & Divorce Attorney Today

If you are going through or considering a divorce and wondering if you are entitled to alimony it is advisable to speak with a knowledgeable lawyer as soon as possible. At the Law Office of Patrick Crawford, our team is dedicated to helping our clients sort through and better understand their options.

Give us a call today at (410) 216-7905 or contact us online to schedule your free initial appointment. We are here and are ready to help!