In Maryland it is the "policy of
the State to limit alimony, where appropriate, to a definite term in order to
provide each party with an incentive to become fully self supporting." Turner v. Turner, 147 Md. App. 350, 387
(2002). Section 11-106(b) of the Family Law Article of the Maryland Code sets
forth twelve (12) factors that a trial court must consider in determining an
award of alimony. Although a trial court must consider all the statutory
factors listed in F.L. § 11-106(b), it "need not use formulaic language or
articulate every reason for its decision with respect to each factor. Rather,
the court must clearly indicate that it has considered all the factors."
Digges v. Digges, 126 Md. App. 361,
387 (1999).
In
examining the trial court's award of alimony, a reviewing court "will not
disturb an alimony award unless the trial court has arbitrarily exercised its
discretion or its judgment was otherwise wrong." Long v. Long, 129 Md. App. 554, 581 (2000). Reviewing courts are to
"accord great deference to the findings and judgments of trial judges,
sitting in their equitable capacity, when conducting divorce proceedings,"
Id
These factors include: (1) the ability of the
party seeking alimony to be wholly or partially self supporting; (2) the time
necessary for the party seeking alimony to gain sufficient education or
training to enable that party to find suitable employment; (3) the standard of
living that the parties established during their marriage; (4) the duration of
the marriage; (5) the contributions, monetary and nonmonetary, of each party to
the well-being of flip faintly; (6) the circumstances that contributed to the
estrangement of the parties; (7) the age of each party; (8) the physical and
mental condition of each party; (9) the ability of the party from whom a11uiony
Is sought to meet that party's needs while meeting the needs of the party
seeking alimony; (10) any agreement between the parties; and (11) the financial
needs and financial resources of each party, including:(i) all income and
assets, including property that does not produce income; (it) any (monetary]
award made ...; (iii) the nature and amount of the financial obligations of
each party; and (iv) the right of each party to receive retirement benefits.,.
