Tampa Alimony Attorney
If you are getting divorced, you may think it’s appropriate to receive alimony from your former spouse for financial support while you establish yourself in the workforce or as compensation for the years you put into the marriage as a homemaker and caregiver. Likewise, if you are the wealthier, working spouse, don’t be surprised if your soon-to-be-ex requests alimony from the judge in your divorce.
There are many different types of alimony under Florida law, and many factors go into deciding whether to award alimony, how much, and for how long. If you are seeking or opposing an alimony award in your divorce, Tampa alimony attorney Laura A. Olson can advise and represent you, putting forward a convincing case for the judge when deciding the issue of alimony.
What kinds of alimony are there in Florida?
Different types of alimony are available in Florida. The types are awarded based on the circumstances of each case. Recent Florida legislation eliminated permanent alimony altogether.
- Temporary alimony is designed to provide financial support to the lesser-earning spouse during the divorce proceedings. Temporary alimony lasts only for the duration of the divorce proceedings and ceases once the divorce is finalized.
- Bridge-the-gap alimony is designed to assist a spouses with short-term needs as they transition from married life to being single. This type can be granted for a period of two years and cannot be modified in terms of amount or duration.
- Rehabilitative alimony supports a spouse who requires education or training to become self-sufficient after divorce. The recipient typically presents a plan outlining their needs and goals. The duration can vary and is now limited to five years and tied to the timeframe specified in the rehabilitative plan. It can be terminated if circumstances change or if the recipient fails to comply with the plan.
- Durational alimony provides economic support for a set period and generally can’t exceed the length of the marriage. It may be modified or terminated under certain circumstances, like a significant change in the financial status of either party.
How do the courts decide on alimony?
Typically, the longer the marriage, the more likely a court may consider a longer alimony term, though each case is unique. Recent legislation updates the definitions for the duration of marriages: marriages lasting under ten years are now classified as short-term, a shift from the earlier seven-year threshold. Marriages spanning between ten and twenty years fall under the moderate-term category, adjusted from the previous seven to seventeen years. Lastly, long-term marriages now last twenty years or more, as opposed to the prior definition of seventeen years or more. The modifications to durational alimony encompass the following:
- There is no durational alimony for marriages under three years in Florida.
- Durational alimony limits: up to 50% of a short-term marriage’s duration, 60% for a moderate-term marriage, and 75% for a long-term union, barring exceptional circumstances.
- Alimony determinants include factors such as the age and employability of the former spouse.
- The alimony sum is either what the court deems as a reasonable requirement or a maximum of 35% of the income disparity between the two ex-spouses, choosing the lesser amount.
- Consideration for preserving the marital standard of living has been eliminated.
As an experienced family law attorney, Tampa alimony lawyer Laura A. Olson knows how to prepare and present a solid argument to guide the judge in analyzing how these factors apply to your case. Without strong and capable representation, the issue of alimony in your divorce may not turn out how you want or need it to.
Get Help with Alimony in Your Tampa Divorce
For help with alimony issues in a Tampa divorce, separation or post-divorce modification, call the Law Office of Laura A. Olson at 813-222-0888 to discuss your needs.
