Legal Blog
Understanding the Different Types of Alimony
Types of alimony
The two types of alimony available to the court are rehabilitative alimony and indefinite alimony.
- Rehabilitative Alimony. Rehabilitative alimony is money awarded for a finite period of time to enable the recipient to become self-supporting. For example, a spouse leaves the workforce because of the birth of a child. In the interim, a professional certification expires or job skills lapse. Rehabilitative alimony would be paid for some specific period of time to enable the recipient to go back to school or for training to make him/herself marketable again.
- Indefinite Alimony. Indefinite alimony has no specified end date for termination of support. Indefinite alimony is paid when, even after the recipient has gone as far as he/she can go economically, there still exists an unconscionable disparity in the standard of living of the parties. For example, a spouse, who has been a homemaker for 30 years and is married to a spouse who has progressed in the work place for 30 years earning a significant income, may be a candidate for indefinite alimony. In this situation, it is unlikely that the homemaker will have the skills to compete economically with the economically-advanced spouse. Even if the homemaker has skills, they may not be marketable, and even if they are, the disparity in the standard of living will likely be disparate.
Alimony Modifications
Keep in mind, alimony arrangements may be modified in light of changing circumstances. For example, alimony that has a fixed length of time can be extended or changed to an indefinite period of time. However, a court cannot modify an alimony award if an agreement is already in place that explicitly states that alimony is not subject to court modification.
In all aspects of the divorce, including alimony, it’s important that you benefit from the advocacy of an expert divorce attorney. Alimony can be a bitter and contentious issue, but with the representation of an experienced litigation firm, you will find that reasonable arrangements can be made. Feel free to contact Linda Sorg Ostovitz at lostovitz@offitkurman.com or telephone (301) 575-0381 to discuss your divorce and any concerns you have about alimony.
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