FAQs Written By Professionals in Florida

"I'm confused about alimony. How does it work in Florida?"

Under Florida Law, permanent, rehabilitative, bridge the gap, and/or lump sum alimony may be awarded to either spouse in either lump-sum or periodic payments or both. The court may order temporary support during the pendency of the litigation so as to allow the impecunious spouse to maintain the status quo during the litigation. It may be ordered for a dependant spouse if the court finds that his/her financial resources aren’t enough to meet reasonable monthly needs and personal living expenses; and the supporting spouse has the ability to pay.

In determining alimony and/or temporary support in Florida, the court may consider;

• standard of living established during the marriage;
• duration of the marriage;
• age and physical and emotional condition of each party;
• financial resources and non-marital and marital assets and liabilities distributed to each;
• time necessary to acquire sufficient education and training to enable spouse to find proper employment;
• contributions of each spouse including services rendered in homemaking, child care, education, and career building of the other spouse; and
• all available sources of income of each spouse. In some circumstances the court may also consider adultery if there has been a dissipation of assets.

The amount of alimony award is up to the judge. Although in some cases there may be an award of limited-term alimony, a more likely approach by the judge would be to grant an open-ended award of alimony, reviewable by the court upon a pleading alleging grounds for modification, namely, a substantial change of circumstances since the date of the court order. The award is in the discretion of the court subject to the factors listed above.

The judge will usually attempt to uncover the unmet needs of the claimant. This is the difference to his/her reasonable monthly needs and expenses and net monthly income, if any. This amount is the "deficit" which must be filled in order to support him/her properly. Next, the judge will attempt to find out what ability the supporting spouse has to meet the dependent spouse’s need.

There are two legal acts that will bar the award of alimony (or temporary support). One is the granting of a Final Judgment of divorce with no claim pending for and/or reservation to award alimony. One of the effects of the final divorce is to bar a claim for alimony if it has not been asserted in a pleading before the divorce is granted. The second bar is when there has been a waiver of alimony in a written agreement of the parties. A separation agreement can obtain a waiver of alimony, and so can an antenuptial agreement. When a party gives up a right to alimony, he/she may not thereafter go back and retrieve the lost support.

Alimony ends at the earlier of:

• the date set by the court for termination;
• the occurrence of the remarriage or death of the dependant spouse; or
• the death of the payor spouse.