Florida Alimony Laws for Divorce Proceedings

What Alimony Laws in Florida Mean for You

According to Florida alimony laws, there are four types of court-ordered payments spouses are eligible for: bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, durational and permanent. With all of these different types of alimony, a judge must take into account certain factors keeping current alimony law in mind. The court must determine if the spouse is eligible, and if so, how much alimony he or she will be granted. In recent years, across the country, alimony has fallen out of favor with courts and is awarded in fewer cases.

Most often, alimony is awarded when there is a large disparity between the income of the spouses and in the cases of long-term marriages (defined as lasting longer than 17 years), according to Florida alimony statute. This Florida divorce alimony law is designed to give the other spouse time to become self-supporting. If both spouses are employed and there isn’t much of a disparity between their earnings, alimony law in FL dictates that monetary support not be awarded.

The amount of alimony is difficult to predict as there is no mathematical formula for determining alimony. According to Florida alimony law statute, monetary support, whether temporary or permanent, is highly dependent on facts of the individual situation, the judge hearing the case, and the savviness of the lawyer.

When determining what type of alimony a spouse may be granted in divorce proceedings and the amount, the courts must take into consideration, but is not limited to, the following factors:

1. The standard of living established during the marriage.
2. The duration of the marriage.
3. The age and the physical and emotional condition of each party.
4. The financial resources of each party, including the non-marital and the marital assets and liabilities distributed to each.
5. The earning capacities, educational levels, vocational skills, and employability of the parties and, when applicable, the time necessary for either party to acquire sufficient education or training to enable such party to find appropriate employment.
6. The contribution of each party to the marriage, including, but not limited to, services rendered in homemaking, child care, education, and career building of the other party.
7. The responsibilities each party will have with regard to any minor children they have in common.
8. The tax treatment and consequences to both parties of any alimony award, including the designation of all or a portion of the payment as a nontaxable, nondeductible payment.
9. All sources of income available to either party, including income available to either party through investments of any asset held by that party.
10. Any other factor necessary to do equity and justice between the parties.

*These factors have been taken directly from Florida’s Alimony Statute.

Florida alimony laws, types and factors can be confusing. I am experienced at helping spouses determine if they are eligible for alimony and fighting for the compensation they deserve. Contact Koleilat & Miller today.