Alimony & Spousal Support in Florida

Alimony payments are an important part of Divorce because financial matters coincide with marital duties. Once a Divorce decree is issued by a judge, it sets off a series of events that will change an ex spouse’s life forever. This is why Alimony Spousal Support is a subject best discussed with a State Bar Licensed Attorney. If you live in Florida, mainly Broward, Miami-Dade, or Palm Beach County, and need professional consultation with a trustworthy attorney, get in contact with The Law Offices of Mark E. Sawicki, P.A. Mark has the experience necessary to handle your Alimony case

Alimony / Spousal Support: What You Need to Know

Dealing with Alimony Spousal Support is the job of a State Bar Licensed Lawyer. If you live in Florida, specifically Broward, Miami-Dade, or Palm Beach counties, and need to consult with a lawyer about Alimony Spousal Support, the Law Office of Mark E. Sawicki, P.A. is your best option. Mark is professional, courteous, and will work with you on your Alimony Case.

• Why does Alimony get granted by the courts?

  Alimony is court ordered because ex spouses are notorious for not upholding support for their ex spouses. Some consider Alimony as unnecessary or unwarranted, but these people couldn’t be further from the truth. Alimony has been a long established legal practice since British common law was brought over to the colonies. Luckily, modern courts award alimony after having qualified judges review specific criteria. This criteria includes:

  • financial resources including property
  • sources of income, investments, assets
  • earning capacity and employability
  • necessary time a spouse needs to educate or train for employment
  • marital standard of living
  • length of marriage
  • spouse’s age, physical, and mental conditions
  • contribution to the marriage
  • tax consequences of alimony
  • children

• Who decides how much Alimony / Spousal Support is issued?

  The courts will decide how much Alimony Spousal Support is issued. They will determine this number on the above criteria. They will weigh the amount heavily on the income capability and current income of the spouses involved. There are different types of alimony which also dictate how the payments will be issued. In Florida, these types are:

  • Temporary-Support meant to be used during the divorce process. Once divorce is finalized, temporary alimony usually ends.
  • Bridge-the-gap-Short term Alimony Support with a maximum of two years.
  • Rehabilitative-Alimony Support directly aimed at education or training for employment of ex spouse.
  • Durational-Support that can not exceed the length of marriage.
  • Permanent-Exactly as it sounds, permanent Alimony Support is support that will likely be permanent.

• How long will Alimony / Spousal Support be issued?

  Every situation is different, and the courts take this into consideration when deciding how long Alimony Spousal Support will be ordered. The order can also be modified if there are extenuating circumstances, including – job loss, income loss, and other financial difficulties that can result in adjustment of alimony.