Alimony

At its most basic, alimony (or spousal support) is designed to help ensure that a spouse who is financially disadvantaged by divorce or during the divorce process receives the financial assistance they need from the other spouse (who has the financial means to help). In other words, alimony acts as a financial balance, and while it does not factor into every divorce, it can play an important role in those divorces in which there is a distinct financial divide between the divorcing spouses. If you have divorce concerns related to alimony, don’t wait to discuss the matter with an experienced Florida divorce attorney.

The state of Florida takes the issue of alimony very seriously and, as such, offers five different varieties (as appropriate):

Temporary Alimony

Temporary support is sometimes ordered for a divorcing spouse who experiences financial need during the divorce proceedings prior to support being ordered by the court. In order to receive temporary alimony, you’ll need to demonstrate that you have the requisite need and that your divorcing spouse has the financial ability to help while you make your way through the lengthy and expensive divorce process. Temporary alimony ends when the divorce is finalized.

Bridge-the-Gap Alimony

Florida is one of the very few states that offer bridge-the-gap alimony, which is financial assistance that is intended to allow the recipient to address a specific transitional financial hiccup, such as:

Waiting for the family home to sell
or
Looking for a full-time job

This bridge-the-gap alimony cannot extend beyond two years, and it comes to an abrupt halt if the recipient remarries.

Rehabilitative Alimony

Rehabilitative support or alimony is probably what you think of when you ponder alimony, and it is the most common form of alimony ordered in Florida. Rehabilitative support is intended to allow the recipient the time they need to become financially independent by engaging in any one or more of the following:

• By brushing up on past job skills
• By acquiring the education necessary to become more marketable in the employment arena
• By obtaining the skills, experience, or training necessary to enter the workforce

In order to receive rehabilitative alimony, you’ll need to provide the court with your plan for achieving financial independence.

Durational Alimony

Like rehabilitative alimony, durational alimony comes with a time limit, but a rehabilitative plan isn’t part of the deal. Durational alimony is a middle ground between rehabilitative alimony and permanent alimony. In other words, the recipient needs financial assistance, but they don’t qualify for permanent alimony and may not be a good candidate for financial rehabilitation. Durational alimony cannot last longer than your marriage did.

Permanent Alimony

Permanent alimony is not at all common, but it is reserved for those instances when a spouse facing financial hardship isn’t likely to become financially independent and needs long-term financial assistance, often for one of the following reasons:

• Due to advanced age
• Due to a disability
• Due to staying home to care for a child with special needs

In Florida, permanent alimony ends with the remarriage of the recipient.

The focused Florida divorce attorneys at Costa & Associates take great pride in helping clients like you favorably resolve their alimony concerns, and we’re here for you, too. To schedule a consultation, please don’t hesitate to contact or call us at 305-827-0100 today.