<section article="gfl" article_name="Family Law" number="11-101" title_number="11" title_name="Alimony" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>The court may award alimony:</text> <level label="1"> <text>on a bill of complaint for alimony; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>as a part of a decree that grants:</text> <level label="i"> <text>an annulment;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>a limited divorce; or</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>an absolute divorce.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The court may award alimony to either party.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>If a final disposition as to alimony has been made in an agreement between the parties, the court is bound by that agreement as the agreement relates to alimony.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <text>Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this section, the court may not award alimony on a bill of complaint for alimony to the spouse of a resident in a related institution as defined in § 19-301 of the Health - General Article, if the petitioner attempts to satisfy the separation grounds for divorce under §§ 7-102 and 7-103 of this article based on the spouse’s residence in the related institution.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gfl" article_name="Family Law" number="11-102" title_number="11" title_name="Alimony" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, in a proceeding for divorce, alimony, or annulment of marriage, the court may award alimony pendente lite to either party.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The court may not award alimony pendente lite in a proceeding for alimony on a bill of complaint for alimony to the spouse of a resident in a related institution as defined in § 19-301 of the Health - General Article if the petitioner attempts to satisfy the separation grounds for divorce under §§ 7-102 and 7-103 of this article based on the spouse’s residence in a related institution.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gfl" article_name="Family Law" number="11-103" title_number="11" title_name="Alimony" subtitle_number="1"> <text>The existence of a ground for divorce against the party seeking alimony is not an automatic bar to the court awarding alimony to that party.</text> </section> <section article="gfl" article_name="Family Law" number="11-104" title_number="11" title_name="Alimony" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>In a proceeding for a limited or absolute divorce, the court may award to the plaintiff alimony as a part of a decree granting a divorce or alimony pendente lite, if:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the bill of complaint asks for alimony and says that the defendant owns property in this State; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>the court lacks or is unable to exercise personal jurisdiction over the defendant.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>Any alimony or alimony pendente lite that is awarded under this section is payable only from the property referred to in the bill of complaint or the proceeds of that property. The court may pass any order regarding the property that is necessary to make the award effective.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gfl" article_name="Family Law" number="11-105" title_number="11" title_name="Alimony" subtitle_number="1"> <text>If an annulment or a limited or absolute divorce has been granted by a court in another jurisdiction, a court in this State may award alimony to either party if:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the court in the other jurisdiction lacked or did not exercise personal jurisdiction over the party seeking alimony; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>the party seeking alimony was domiciled in this State at least 1 year before the annulment or divorce was granted.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gfl" article_name="Family Law" number="11-106" title_number="11" title_name="Alimony" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>The court shall determine the amount of and the period for an award of alimony.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The court may award alimony for a period beginning from the filing of the pleading that requests alimony.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>At the conclusion of the period of the award of alimony, no further alimony shall accrue.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>In making the determination, the court shall consider all the factors necessary for a fair and equitable award, including:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the ability of the party seeking alimony to be wholly or partly self-supporting;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>the time necessary for the party seeking alimony to gain sufficient education or training to enable that party to find suitable employment;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>the standard of living that the parties established during their marriage;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>the duration of the marriage;</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>the contributions, monetary and nonmonetary, of each party to the well-being of the family;</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>the circumstances that contributed to the estrangement of the parties;</text> </level> <level label="7"> <text>the age of each party;</text> </level> <level label="8"> <text>the physical and mental condition of each party;</text> </level> <level label="9"> <text>the ability of the party from whom alimony is sought to meet that party’s needs while meeting the needs of the party seeking alimony;</text> </level> <level label="10"> <text>any agreement between the parties;</text> </level> <level label="11"> <text>the financial needs and financial resources of each party, including:</text> <level label="i"> <text>all income and assets, including property that does not produce income;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>any award made under §§ 8-205 and 8-208 of this article;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>the nature and amount of the financial obligations of each party; and</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>the right of each party to receive retirement benefits; and</text> </level> </level> <level label="12"> <text>whether the award would cause a spouse who is a resident of a related institution as defined in § 19-301 of the Health - General Article and from whom alimony is sought to become eligible for medical assistance earlier than would otherwise occur.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>The court may award alimony for an indefinite period, if the court finds that:</text> <level label="1"> <text>due to age, illness, infirmity, or disability, the party seeking alimony cannot reasonably be expected to make substantial progress toward becoming self-supporting; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>even after the party seeking alimony will have made as much progress toward becoming self-supporting as can reasonably be expected, the respective standards of living of the parties will be unconscionably disparate.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gfl" article_name="Family Law" number="11-107" title_number="11" title_name="Alimony" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>Subject to § 8-103 of this article, the court may extend the period for which alimony is awarded, if:</text> <level label="1"> <text>circumstances arise during the period that would lead to a harsh and inequitable result without an extension; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>the recipient petitions for an extension during the period.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>Subject to § 8-103 of this article and on the petition of either party, the court may modify the amount of alimony awarded as circumstances and justice require.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gfl" article_name="Family Law" number="11-108" title_number="11" title_name="Alimony" subtitle_number="1"> <text>Unless the parties agree otherwise, alimony terminates:</text> <level label="1"> <text>on the death of either party;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>on the marriage of the recipient; or</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>if the court finds that termination is necessary to avoid a harsh and inequitable result.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gfl" article_name="Family Law" number="11-109" title_number="11" title_name="Alimony" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>In this section, “designee” means:</text> <level label="1"> <text>a support enforcement agency that is authorized by law to receive alimony payments for the recipient; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>a person who is designated by the court as trustee or guardian to receive alimony payments for the recipient.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The court may order that alimony payments be made to a designee.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>A designee shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>send the payments to the recipient; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>keep a record of:</text> <level label="i"> <text>the amount of each payment;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>the date that each payment must be made; and</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>the name and address of each party.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>Each party shall inform the designee of:</text> <level label="1"> <text>any change of address; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>any other fact that might affect the administration of the order.</text> </level> </level> <level label="e"> <text>If the party who is required to pay alimony fails to make a payment, the designee or the recipient may bring an enforcement proceeding.</text> </level> <level label="f"> <text>The State’s Attorney may represent the designee in any enforcement proceeding that is brought under this section.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gfl" article_name="Family Law" number="11-110" title_number="11" title_name="Alimony" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>“Proceeding” includes a proceeding for:</text> <level label="i"> <text>alimony;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>alimony pendente lite;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>modification of an award of alimony; and</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>enforcement of an award of alimony.</text> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <text>“Reasonable and necessary expense” includes:</text> <level label="i"> <text>suit money;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>counsel fees; and</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>costs.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>At any point in a proceeding under this title, the court may order either party to pay to the other party an amount for the reasonable and necessary expense of prosecuting or defending the proceeding.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>Before ordering the payment, the court shall consider:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the financial resources and financial needs of both parties; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>whether there was substantial justification for prosecuting or defending the proceeding.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>Upon a finding by the court that there was an absence of substantial justification of a party for prosecuting or defending the proceeding, and absent a finding by the court of good cause to the contrary, the court shall award to the other party the reasonable and necessary expense of prosecuting or defending the proceeding.</text> </level> <level label="e"> <text>The court may award reimbursement for any reasonable and necessary expense that has previously been paid.</text> </level> <level label="f"> <text>As to any amount awarded for counsel fees, the court may:</text> <level label="1"> <text>order that the amount awarded be paid directly to the lawyer; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>enter judgment in favor of the lawyer.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gfl" article_name="Family Law" number="11-111" title_number="11" title_name="Alimony" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>In accordance with the provisions of § 15-408 of the Insurance Article, the court may, either after a divorce is granted or pendente lite, allocate between the parties any additional costs of providing hospital, medical, or surgical benefits under a group contract or require continuation or reinstatement of such benefits.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A court may, either after a divorce or pendente lite, allocate between the parties any expenses incurred for continuation of hospital, medical, or surgical benefits made available under a group contract in accordance with federal law.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gfl" article_name="Family Law" number="11-112" title_number="11" title_name="Alimony" subtitle_number="1"> <text>When granting a limited divorce, an absolute divorce, or an annulment, if the court finds from the testimony of 2 or more physicians competent in psychiatry that 1 of the parties is permanently and incurably insane with no hope of recovery, then, notwithstanding any agreement between the parties, the court may require a party to:</text> <level label="1"> <text>pay alimony or support for the benefit of the insane party;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>pay a lump sum, based on the life expectancy of the insane party and the financial condition of the other party, together with the insane party’s reasonable funeral expenses; or</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>give bond to this State conditioned on the payment for:</text> <level label="i"> <text>the care and support of the insane party for the rest of the insane party’s life; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>the insane party’s reasonable funeral expenses.</text> </level> </level> </section>