SB213 Summary

• Authorizes courts to award interim alimony in divorce, legal separation, or annulment cases filed after January 1, 2018, if the spouse maintains marriage validity, needs interim support, and the other spouse has ability to pay.

• Permits judges to award reasonable interim fees, costs, and litigation expenses (including discovery, expert witnesses, attorney fees) from marital property or current income to ensure equitable access to resources for both parties.

• Establishes rehabilitative alimony as the priority award (limited to 5 years absent extraordinary circumstances) to help a spouse acquire ability to preserve the economic status quo of the marriage.

• Provides for periodic alimony when rehabilitation is not feasible, not attempted in good faith, or only partially successful, with duration limited to the length of the marriage unless the marriage lasted 20 years or longer.

• Allows modification of alimony orders upon material change in circumstances and permits termination upon death of either spouse; applies only to cases filed on or after January 1, 2018.