When navigating divorce proceedings, alimony matters require careful attention and expert guidance. Understanding your options regarding spousal support is crucial for protecting your financial future.
What Is Alimony?
Spousal maintenance, commonly called alimony, consists of payments made between spouses following divorce. Not all divorces involve alimony; courts typically award it when one spouse has relied financially on the other throughout the marriage.
The court may require the higher-earning spouse to support the other spouse. Several alimony types exist:
Temporary Alimony
Court-ordered payments during divorce proceedings that may or may not continue after finalization.
Bridge-the-Gap and Rehabilitative Alimony
Designed to help a spouse transition toward self-sufficiency, often covering education or vocational training periods.
Durational Alimony
Typically granted in shorter marriages and will not last longer than the marriage lasted.
Permanent Alimony
Long-term support helping maintain the lifestyle established during marriage. This is typically reserved for long-term marriages where one spouse cannot become self-supporting.
There Are Two Sides
Florida has debated lifetime alimony requirements extensively. Two perspectives dominate the discussion:
- Recipients of alimony often lack alternative financial resources for survival and support
- Those paying alimony argue the system lacks fairness and shouldn’t impose indefinite obligations, particularly during personal hardship
The laws continue to evolve, making it important to work with an attorney who stays current on Florida family law changes.
What You Can Do Now?
If you’re facing a divorce and have questions about alimony—whether you might be entitled to receive it or required to pay it—consulting with an experienced family law attorney is essential. Understanding your rights and obligations early in the process can help you make informed decisions about your future.