Temporary spousal support happens when a spouse needs assistance during a lengthy divorce process. The spouse requesting temporary support should demonstrate to the judge that they need assistance and that the paying spouse has the means. The beneficiary remains financially stable throughout the divorce. The support ends after the marriage gets dissolved. Bridge-the-gap support is rare in other states. It helps the supported spouse to meet legitimate intermediate needs as they transition to singlehood. For instance, the spouse who needs support can pay bills and living expenses as they wait for an asset to get sold or as they wait to get full-time employment. The support should not exceed a specified period. It also terminates when the beneficiary remarries or the spouse making the payments becomes deceased.
Rehabilitative support is popular in Florida. It gets awarded if a spouse can become self-sufficient given financial support and time to acquire education, work experience, training, or redevelop skills to enter the job market. Spouses are required to create a defined and specific rehabilitative plan before the court awards rehabilitative spousal support. Durational support and rehabilitative support are similar except that no defined and specific plan is required in this case. Durational support becomes necessary if a spouse needs assistance for a given period following a divorce. It gets granted to spouses who don’t meet the requirements for permanent support. Durational support should not exceed the length of the marriage. Permanent spousal support is reserved for spouses who need assistance but cannot become self-sufficient. It is often appropriate for aged and disabled spouses. Spouses caring for special needs kids can also qualify for permanent support. The requesting spouse should demonstrate special circumstances. The court considers marriage duration when determining the award amount.
Any spouse can request spousal support (male or female) provided they prove a need and demonstrate that the other spouse has the means to make payments. The judge has wide discretion to decide the amount, duration, and type of spousal support because the law does not prescribe a formula. Visit this link to learn more about Florida alimony laws.