Calculating Alimony in Maryland

Maryland Alimony Estimation Calculator

Estimate potential spousal support based on Maryland's income-sharing guidelines.

Estimation Results

Monthly Alimony Range:

Estimated Duration:

Note: Maryland does not use a fixed formula by law. These figures are based on common guidelines (AAML/Kaufman) and judicial discretion factors under FL § 11-106.

Understanding Alimony in Maryland

In Maryland, alimony (also known as spousal support) is not calculated using a rigid, state-mandated mathematical formula for every case. Instead, judges have significant discretion based on the specific circumstances of the marriage. This tool uses the widely recognized Kaufman Guideline and AAML logic to provide a baseline estimate.

The Three Types of Alimony in MD

• Pendente Lite: Temporary support awarded while the divorce process is ongoing to maintain the status quo.
• Rehabilitative: The most common form, intended to support a spouse for a fixed period while they gain the education or skills needed to become self-sufficient.
• Indefinite: Awarded in long-term marriages or where a spouse cannot make substantial progress toward self-sufficiency due to age or disability, or if the standards of living remain "unconscionably disparate."

Key Statutory Factors (FL § 11-106)

When a Maryland court determines an award, they must consider:

1. The ability of the party seeking alimony to be wholly or partly self-supporting.
2. The time necessary for the party seeking alimony to gain sufficient education or training.
3. The standard of living established during the marriage.
4. The duration of the marriage.
5. The monetary and non-monetary contributions of each party to the well-being of the family.
6. The circumstances that contributed to the estrangement (fault).
7. The age and physical/mental condition of each party.
8. The ability of the party from whom alimony is sought to meet their own needs while paying support.

Realistic Example Calculation

If a spouse earns $10,000 gross per month and the other earns $2,000, and they were married for 18 years, the calculation might look like this:

• Guideline Calculation: (30% of $10,000) – (50% of $2,000) = $3,000 – $1,000 = $2,000 per month.
• Duration: Usually ranges from 1/3 to 1/2 the length of the marriage. For an 18-year marriage, this could be 6 to 9 years.

function calculateAlimonyMD() { var payorMonthly = parseFloat(document.getElementById('payorIncome').value); var recipientMonthly = parseFloat(document.getElementById('recipientIncome').value); var years = parseFloat(document.getElementById('marriageLength').value); var resultDiv = document.getElementById('mdResultArea'); if (isNaN(payorMonthly) || isNaN(recipientMonthly) || isNaN(years)) { alert("Please enter valid numbers for income and marriage length."); return; } // Standard "30/50" rule calculation // 30% of payor's gross minus 50% of recipient's gross var lowEnd = (payorMonthly * 0.28) – (recipientMonthly * 0.50); var highEnd = (payorMonthly * 0.32) – (recipientMonthly * 0.50); // Ceiling check: Combined income split // Alimony should generally not result in the recipient having more than 40-45% of total combined income var combinedIncome = payorMonthly + recipientMonthly; var maxAllowed = (combinedIncome * 0.40) – recipientMonthly; if (lowEnd < 0) lowEnd = 0; if (highEnd maxAllowed && maxAllowed > 0) { highEnd = maxAllowed; } if (lowEnd > highEnd) lowEnd = highEnd * 0.8; // Duration Estimation var durationMin, durationMax; if (years < 3) { durationMin = "0"; durationMax = "1 year"; } else if (years = 20) { durationMin = (years * 0.5).toFixed(1); durationMax = "Indefinite Potential"; } else { durationMin = (years * 0.4).toFixed(1); durationMax = (years * 0.6).toFixed(1); } var durationString = ""; if (years >= 20) { durationString = durationMin + " years to Indefinite"; } else if (years < 3) { durationString = "Short term / Pendente Lite only"; } else { durationString = durationMin + " to " + durationMax + " years"; } document.getElementById('alimonyAmount').innerText = "$" + Math.round(lowEnd).toLocaleString() + " – $" + Math.round(highEnd).toLocaleString() + " /mo"; document.getElementById('alimonyDuration').innerText = durationString; resultDiv.style.display = 'block'; resultDiv.scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth' }); }