Getting A Divorce? How To Get The Maximum Amount Of Alimony In Fort Lauderdale

It can be devastating financially to get a divorce in Fort Lauderdale. Alimony payments can help you adjust. Changes in state law recently amended how alimony is awarded in Florida, which could result in reduced settlements. Our Fort Lauderdale alimony lawyer shares ways to ensure you get the maximum allowed in your case.

Florida Alimony Reform Changes

Senate Bill 1416 was passed earlier this year and made sweeping changes to Florida alimony laws. It went into effect on July 1, 2023, and impacts all current and future divorce cases.  Key provisions include:

• Permanent alimony payments, previously awarded in long-term marriages, are eliminated;
• Durational alimony is only available if you have been married for at least three years;
• Previously designed to help the receiving spouse maintain the same standard of living as they did during the marriage, durational alimony now only covers what could be considered ‘reasonable needs’;
• Durational alimony may not last for longer than half the length of the marriage;
• Rehabilitative alimony, which can help you gain the education and experience needed to reenter the workforce, may only be awarded for a maximum of five years.

These changes have the potential to reduce the overall amount of alimony you are otherwise entitled to in your case. Therefore, it is important for you to take certain steps that can help in getting the maximum amount in a settlement.

Getting the Maximum Amount Of Alimony In Your Divorce

Under the Florida Statutes, you may be entitled to alimony payments based on the length of your marriage and the amount you and your spouse earn. If you make considerably less or sacrificed your own career or education for the sake of your marriage, alimony can help protect your financial security once your divorce is finalized. To get the maximum amount you are entitled to, follow these steps:

• Collect proof of all of your spouse’s income: This includes benefits, bonuses, commissions, and other earnings. Check your tax returns to verify these amounts.
• Document all of your expenses: This includes what it costs to reasonably live in Fort Lauderdale and any additional expenses, such as job training costs, you will likely incur.
• Document marital misconduct on the part of your spouse: You do not need to specify fault grounds to get a divorce in Fort Lauderdale, but affairs or other types of marital misconduct on the part of your spouse could entitle you to a greater settlement.
• Carefully consider marital property division: The goal is to get the maximum amount you are entitled to in marital property division. If your spouse is unwilling to surrender certain items, the value can be included in your alimony award.

Request A Consultation With Our Fort Lauderdale Divorce Lawyer 

Alimony helps you recover financially from a divorce. To get the maximum amount you are entitled to, contact the law office of Vanessa L. Prieto. Request a consultation with our Fort Lauderdale divorce lawyer today.

Sources:

flsenate.gov/Committees/BillSummaries/2023/html/2984

leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0000-0099/0061/Sections/0061.08.html