Just the word “alimony” can cause anxiety in some people. However, for some, it’s a much-needed lifeline to maintain quality of life after divorce.
The court considers alimony or spousal support after the debts and assets are divided. They will determine if one spouse requires financial support from the other. During the evaluation, the court will consider the standard of living that each party enjoyed through the marriage and each person’s current financial situation. The court also considers the health and age of both parties.
In Florida, there are a few different types of alimony in Florida. These include bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, durational, and permanent. Sometimes, one spouse is awarded a lump sum alimony payment. The longer a couple’s marriage is, the longer the alimony will likely be.
When it comes to issues related to alimony, if you have questions, I am here to help. At Griffin Family Law, I take pride in providing my clients with accurate answers to their family law-related questions and providing quality representation for their situation when needed. As a reputable Jacksonville divorce lawyer, you can count on me to answer any questions you may have.
Here, I describe each type of alimony and how it works. You can also reach out to my office at any time, and I will be happy to discuss your situation.
Rehabilitative Alimony
Rehabilitative alimony may be required to help a spouse improve their marketability. An example would be if one spouse was still in school. In this situation, the judge may order the spouse who is not in school to contribute to the one who is. With this type of alimony, the requesting party must show a plan to the court for them to consider the request.
Bridge-the-Gap Alimony
With this type of alimony, the goal is to facilitate the transition from being married to being single. For one spouse, it may be more financially challenging than it is for the other. With this type of alimony, the funds can be used to help cover car payments, moving costs, or other similar expenses. Bridge-the-gap alimony will never last more than two years.
Durational Alimony
With durational alimony, you receive alimony payments for a set amount of time. This is awarded if there are no other types of alimony that work for your situation. Usually, this type of alimony won’t exceed the duration of the couple’s marriage.
Permanent Alimony
Cases of permanent alimony can be awarded in some situations. Despite what you may have heard, this type of alimony still exists. It’s designed to help a spouse who won’t be able to maintain a standard of living that is reasonably close to what they had during their marriage.
Factors That Impact if Alimony Is Awarded in Your Divorce Case
If one party in the marriage happened to commit adultery, the court may consider this and the circumstances around the adultery, but it may not impact the court’s decision related to alimony. More importantly, financial matters will be considered when determining alimony. These financial factors include:
- The duration of the marriage
- Standard of living that each spouse had during the marriage
- Age of each spouse and emotional or physical impairments that may impact their economic needs or earning capacity
- The economic position of each spouse includes non-marital and marital assets that are retained or distributed by the divorce decree and any debt that was incurred during their marriage.
- If one spouse needs more career or educational training to find a job that will allow them to support themselves.
- The contributions that both spouses made in the marriage, financial and others.
It’s important to note that while one spouse may have worked and the other did not, it does not mean that the non-working spouse did not contribute to the marriage. Some non-financial contributions include:
- Childcare
- Assisting their spouse when building a career or business
- Support of the spouse while they obtain education
- Homemaking
The purpose of alimony is to help one party get back on their feet after divorce. It’s not to punish one of the people in the relationship.
Contact Griffin Family Law for Help and Information
If you have more questions about alimony and your rights, reach out today. I can answer your questions and provide you with legal representation if needed. Hiring me as your Neptune Beach divorce lawyer means that you have someone on your side who can help you with your case and ensure you achieve the best possible outcome for the situation. Schedule a consultation today.
