The Different Types of Alimony in Florida
When a couple is going through a divorce in Florida, it may cause one of the partners to suffer financially as a result. In these situations, one former spouse may seek alimony (also called spousal support) from the other as part of the divorce proceedings.
Alimony may come in a number of different forms, determined by the length of the marriage, the standard of living established, physical and emotional condition of the parties, current financial resources, earning capabilities, contributions to the marriage and any financial obligations to children. The following are the different types of spousal support that may be awarded:
- Bridge the gap alimony: Applied to periods of no more than two years, this form of alimony is awarded to those with immediate financial support needs. Generally following short-term marriages, it is not subject to modification in either length or amount paid.
- Durational alimony: Durational spousal support extends for a court-determined period of time and is generally applied to short-term and some moderate-term marriages, where a need for long-term, sustained financial support is not recognized. The period of time in which alimony payments take place change and may not extend longer than the actual length of the marriage.
- Rehabilitative alimony: Rehabilitative alimony often follows moderate-term marriages in which one spouse was the primary breadwinner, and thus the other party must re-enter the workforce to support themselves after a divorce. The amount paid and the duration of alimony payments may be modified in the event of non-compliance with the rehabilitative plan or the completion of payments.
- Permanent alimony: This alimony typically applies to long-term marriages. For permanent alimony to be granted, there must be clear and wholly convincing evidence that spousal support is required on an ongoing basis.
When going through a divorce in Florida, it’s possible that alimony will be part of your final divorce decree. Consult a skilled family law attorney in Fort Lauderdale for the guidance you need.
