Ch. 514

1993 LAWS OF MARYLAND

CHAPTER 514
(House Bill 381)

AN ACT concerning

Alimony and Child Support - Mandatory Award of Expenses

FOR the purpose of requiring, rather than permitting, a court to award certain expenses,
including costs and counsel fees, in a proceeding to recover arrearages of child
support or to enforce an award of alimony under certain circumstances; and
generally relating to the award of expenses in certain proceedings.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article - Family Law
Section 11-110 and 12-103
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1991 Replacement Volume and 1992 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Family Law

11-110.           

(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

(2)     "Proceeding" includes a proceeding for:
(i) alimony;

(ii) alimony pendente lite;

(iii) modification of an award of alimony; and

(iv) enforcement of an award of alimony.

(3)     "Reasonable and necessary expense" includes:
(i) suit money;

(ii) counsel fees; and
(iii) costs.

(b)     [At] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION, 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.

(c)     [Before] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION,
BEFORE ordering the payment, the court shall consider:

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