Understanding Your Child and Spousal Support Rights in Maryland
The financial worries and uncertainty that accompany divorce can be overwhelming. At the Maryland office of Law Office of L. Juanita Board, LLC, I will provide the caring, quality legal representation you and your family need. Combining experience and compassion, I am dedicated to finding solutions that meet each family's unique needs.
With more than 10 years of family law experience in Maryland, I will help you understand how your situation fits within the law and zealously advocate on your behalf. Call 301-345-2201 or contact me online to discuss your child and spousal support concerns in a free initial consultation.
Understanding Maryland's Child Support Guidelines
The amount of child support you will receive or be required to pay is calculated based on Maryland's state guidelines. As an experienced family lawyer, I will give you a candid assessment of what to expect based on your situation.
To arrive at an accurate figure, all income sources and expenses need to be identified and taken into account. My job is to ensure that every relevant factor is fully and fairly considered by the court.
After the initial child support determination, I will continue to be your advocate when needed. If your former spouse is failing to meet their support obligations or if you have experienced a significant change in your life or financial circumstances, I will pursue enforcement or modification of the support order.
Pursuing a Fair Alimony Agreement
Unlike the formulaic method used to determine child support, the court takes a discretionary approach to alimony (also known as spousal support). It will consider numerous factors in determining alimony, including the length of the marriage, one spouse's ability to pay, the other spouse's need, and even the reason for the divorce if fault is alleged.
There are different forms of alimony are available for different purposes:
- Temporary alimony: Sometimes called alimony pendente lite, temporary spousal support may be awarded to let the recipient spouse maintain his or her current standard of living pending the outcome of the divorce.
- Rehabilitative alimony: If the court decides that one spouse should receive support until he or she can become self-supporting, it may order rehabilitative support, continuing while that spouse finishes further education or training.
- Permanent or indefinite alimony: When there is a great disparity between the respective incomes of each spouse, the court may award permanent alimony. This allows the recipient party to maintain a similar standard of living as during the marriage and is granted when court determines that failure to do so would be unfair to the lesser-earning party.
I will explain the various factors the court will evaluate and give you a realistic assessment of likely outcomes. Protecting your interests is my main priority, and I will aggressively advocate on your behalf.
After the initial support determination, you can continue to rely on me to handle any post-decree enforcement or modification of the initial support order.
To learn more about child and spousal support, please visit my child and spousal support FAQs page.
Learn How I Can Help You
I invite you to call 301-345-2201 or contact me online to schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your support matter with an experienced divorce attorney. I represent clients throughout Maryland, including Prince George's, Montgomery, Anne Arundel and Howard Counties.