How are alimony determinations made in Florida?  

On Behalf of | Apr 4, 2022 | Florida Family Law

Every marriage is unique in how the couple earns their income. Sometimes only one spouse works and the other may stay home with the children. In other marriages both spouses may work and earn similar incomes. In between those two situations there is a wide variety of how much each spouse works or earns.

During the marriage this may not be a major issue as people share the income each spouse earns and use that money for their shared expenses. However, if the couple ends up going through a divorce how the couple earned their money can become a major issue. This is especially true in marriages when one spouse earned all or most of the income for the family. When one spouse will have little or no income after the divorce alimony could be an issue that will need to be resolved during the divorce.

Factors used to determine alimony

Alimony is payments made from one spouse to the other after the divorce so each spouse can continue to meet their needs as they move forward separately. There is not a calculator to determine the amount or duration though and instead there are certain factors that must be analyzed. These include, but are not limited to:

  • The standard of living established during the marriage
  • The duration of the marriage
  • The age and health of each spouse
  • The employment history and earning capacity of each spouse
  • The amount of property and resources available to each spouse
  • The contributions made by each spouse to the marriage, including homemaking and child care, which allowed the other spouse to advance their career
  • The responsibilities each spouse will have for caring for the children after the marriage

Alimony determinations in Florida are very fact-specific and unique to the circumstances of the spouses during the marriage. It is important to understand the factors that are used to make these determinations and consulting with experienced attorneys could be beneficial.