HB257 Summary

• Award interim alimony in divorce, legal separation, or annulment actions filed after January 1, 2018, if the spouse maintains marriage validity, needs interim support, and the other spouse can pay.

• Authorize courts to award reasonable interim fees, costs, and litigation expenses from marital property or current income for discovery, expert witnesses, guardians ad litem, special masters, and attorney fees to ensure equitable access to funds.

• Require courts to award either rehabilitative alimony (limited to 5 years absent extraordinary circumstances) or periodic alimony upon divorce or legal separation, based on specific statutory factors.

• Limit periodic alimony duration to the length of the marriage, except marriages of 20 years or longer qualify for unlimited duration eligibility.

• Apply only to actions filed on or after January 1, 2018, with prior law governing cases filed before that date.