What Type of Alimony is Right for Your Divorce?

Alimony, sometimes called spousal support, may be granted to either spouse in a divorce based on the less wealthy spouse’s need and the wealthier spouse’s ability to pay. The purpose of alimony is to help the lesser earning spouse maintain their current lifestyle while they transition into becoming financial independent after the divorce. Alimony can be ordered both during and after the divorce is finalized in Florida, and the law offers many different types of alimony payments, depending on the specific circumstances of your case. Understanding the different types of Florida spousal support offered can go a long way in simplifying negotiations over alimony payments. For more information about alimony, call or contact our Tampa spousal support attorneys at the office of Blair H. Chan, III today.

Types of Florida Alimony

In Florida, there are five main types of alimony that a judge can order one spouse to pay the other during and after a divorce. The type of alimony ordered is typically dependent on the length of the marriage and other factors. Spousal support can be paid in periodic payments or in one lump sum payment to the lesser earning spouse. Alimony payments are required until the term of payments expire, the lesser earning spouse remarries, or either spouse dies. The main types of alimony in Florida are as follows:

Temporary Alimony

Temporary alimony is paid while the divorce is ongoing and one spouse requires financial support during the divorce process. This type of alimony ends once the divorce is finalized.

Bridge-the-Gap Alimony

Bridge-the-gap alimony is ordered after the divorce is finalized and is typically short term alimony, no more than two years. The purpose is to help the lesser earning spouse meet immediate identifiable needs, such as living, educational, or training expenses.

Rehabilitative Alimony

Rehabilitative alimony is meant to help a spouse get the education or training needed to reenter the workforce or gain appropriate employment to meet her financial needs. In order to receive rehabilitative alimony, the spouse requesting the alimony must submit a plan to the court that explains how much is needed and how long the education or training will take.

Durational Alimony

Durational alimony is ordered by the court if bridge-the-gap and rehabilitative alimony is not enough to meet the needs of the lesser earning spouse after the divorce. The maximum length of durational alimony in Florida is equal to the length of the marriage. 

Permanent Alimony

Permanent alimony is given to a spouse that has permanent economic needs, which can be for a number of reasons. Age, disability, caring for a disabled child, and other situations where it is not reasonable for that spouse to return to the workforce are all reasons why permanent alimony may be ordered by the court. The judge must put in writing why permanent alimony is ordered and why the other options are not reasonable given the facts of the case.

Call or Contact My Office Today

To learn more about the different types of alimony and which might be right for your divorce, call or contact the office of Blair H. Chan, III in Tampa today.

Resource:

leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0000-0099/0061/Sections/0061.08.html

https://www.bchanlaw.com/when-is-alimony-terminated-in-a-florida-divorce/