Maryland Alimony & Spousal Support (2026)
Unlike child support, Maryland has no fixed formula for how much alimony (spousal support) costs or how long it lasts. A judge decides both based on a list of factors set out in Md. Code, Family Law § 11-106. There is no calculator that can honestly give you an exact number here — but the factors below are what actually drives the decision.
What determines alimony in Maryland
Under Md. Code, Family Law § 11-106 (Maryland Family Law Article, § 11-106), a court considers:
- Ability of the party seeking alimony to be wholly or partly self-supporting
- Time needed for the party seeking alimony to gain education or training for suitable employment
- Standard of living the parties established during their marriage
- Duration of the marriage
- Monetary and non-monetary contributions of each party to the well-being of the family
- Circumstances that contributed to the estrangement of the parties
- Age of each party
- Physical and mental condition of each party
- Ability of the party from whom alimony is sought to meet that party's own needs while paying alimony
- Any agreement between the parties
- Each party's financial needs and resources, including income, assets, property, child support awards, and retirement benefits
- Whether the award would make either party eligible for medical assistance sooner than otherwise anticipated
Good to know
- Maryland has no statutory formula or guideline percentage for the amount of alimony — the court weighs the factors above to reach a "fair and equitable" award, and either party can present evidence on any of them.
- Maryland alimony is typically for a fixed period (rehabilitative), but § 11-106 allows an indefinite award if the recipient cannot become self-supporting due to age, illness, or disability, or if the parties' post-divorce living standards would otherwise be unconscionably disparate — this is a case-by-case finding, not a formula.
Also need a child support estimate?
Alimony and child support are calculated completely separately in Maryland. If you also have children, use our free Maryland child support calculator — that one does compute a real number, based on the official guideline formula.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an alimony formula in Maryland?
No. Maryland has no statutory formula or percentage table for alimony. Under Family Law § 11-106, a judge sets the amount and duration by weighing a list of statutory factors, such as each spouse's ability to be self-supporting, the marriage's duration, and each party's financial needs and resources — there is no calculation that produces a fixed number.
What factors determine alimony in Maryland?
A Maryland court considers things like whether the requesting spouse can become self-supporting and how long that would take, the standard of living during the marriage, the marriage's duration, each spouse's age and physical and mental condition, contributions each made to the family, the circumstances of the estrangement, any agreement between the parties, and each party's financial needs, resources, and ability to pay. No single factor controls the outcome.
Source: Maryland Family Law Article, § 11-106 · Last verified 2026-07-22
Disclaimer: This page explains the general legal framework for alimony in Maryland and is for informational purposes only — it is not legal advice and does not predict the outcome of any specific case. Laws change; always verify with the official source above or a family law attorney licensed in Maryland before making decisions.