Alimony

Alimony is a court-ordered payment made by one spouse to another. As of July 1, 2023, permanent alimony is no longer available as relief to spouses.

Florida Statute currently provides three types of alimony as available relief to spouses: bridge-the-gap alimony, rehabilitative alimony, and durational alimony. Couples can negotiate a potential alimony award, including the type, duration, and amount of support. Some factors to consider when awarding alimony is the length of the marriage, the standard of living established during the marriage, each spouse’s age, physical, and emotional health, sources of income, and each spouse’s earning capacity.

If you think you may qualify for alimony, or believe your spouse may qualify for alimony, reach out to our office to schedule an initial consultation and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have!

Paying Down The Divorce: Alimony And Spousal Support In Florida Divorce

Divorce is a reality facing nearly 40% of marriages in Florida. Alimony, (or spousal support), is one of its many costs, paid by one spouse to the other to help them maintain the former standard of living. This article answers several essential questions you might have about spousal support and alimony including:

• Who is likely to be required to pay spousal support/alimony in Florida after a divorce.
• How much alimony you are likely to pay or receive after divorce in Florida.
• How long alimony lasts after a divorce in Florida. (It might be longer than you think!)

What Is Alimony Or Spousal Support?

Alimony and spousal support are two names for the same thing: money paid from one spouse after the divorce to the other.

The purpose of alimony is to help a spouse with lower income opportunities or who gave up income opportunities for the marriage to continue closer to the same standard of living they had before. At least until they are able to get their life, career, and income situation sorted.

Will I Pay Spousal Support In Florida?

Unlike child support, alimony is determined based on one spouse's need and the other spouse’s ability to pay.

There has been a revamp of the alimony statute as well in the last few years that not all Florida residents may be aware of. Before, there was no legal guidance on how much alimony is too much or how much alimony is too little alimony. Now, in addition to the need and the ability to pay, there is also a general guideline taken into account: roughly 35% of the difference between both parties’ incomes.

If you are unsure whether or not you will be required to pay, you can reach out to an attorney for guidance and an idea of what might be expected of you.

How Much Money Will I Pay Or Receive For Spousal Support In Florida?

The exact amount of alimony required from one spouse to the other will be determined by the court, and depends on a number of different factors, including:

• How much your spouse makes.
• How much income you make.
• How long you have been married.

After a relatively short marriage, you will be expected to pay/receive less alimony than a moderate-length marriage or a long-term marriage. The duration of the marriage also has a significant impact on the duration of alimony and spousal support payments.

How Long Does Alimony Or Spousal Support Last In Florida?

While the size of alimony will depend in part on the duration of your marriage, the duration of alimony payments depends almost entirely on it. For shorter and moderate-length marriages, you are not going to be granted alimony for longer than half of the length of the marriage.

For long-term marriages, which are 20 years or longer, you are likely going to be granted alimony for 70% of the length of the term of the marriage. Ultimately, however, the duration of alimony payments depends on how long you have been married to this particular person, whether or not you have a need for alimony, and whether or not the other person has the ability to pay that alimony. For more information on Alimony And Spousal Support In Florida, an initial consultation is your next best step.