FL H1475

Requires courts to first determine whether either party has an actual need for alimony and whether the other party has the ability to pay before awarding alimony.

Expands durational alimony eligibility to include marriages of long duration if there is no ongoing need for permanent support, with duration limited to the length of the marriage.

Requires permanent alimony awards following moderate-duration marriages to be based on clear and convincing evidence and includes a requirement that courts find no other form of alimony is fair and reasonable.

Prohibits alimony awards that leave the payor with significantly less net income than the recipient unless there are written findings of exceptional circumstances.

Applies to all initial alimony awards entered after July 1, 2011, and modifications made after that date, but does not affect awards entered before July 1, 2011.