Alimony is a payment made from one spouse to another during or/and after the divorce. The alimony concept began a long time ago when one spouse would work a day’s job while the other (usually the woman) would care for the household. Contrary to popular belief, alimony is not a preserve for a woman. Anyone can request support if they can demonstrate the need and show that their spouse has the means to pay. Just as always, alimony shields the low-income earning spouse from becoming destitute during or after the divorce. It is crucial to cushion either spouse from financial hardships precipitated by a divorce. Florida provides various alimony categories to suit different needs. Rehabilitative and durational alimonies are similar. A time limit gets set by the court in both. Durational support is suitable where the spouse supported needs monetary help for a given period following the divorce.
Durational support is appropriate for a spouse who does not meet the conditions for permanent support. The span of durational alimony should not exceed the length of the marriage. Permanent support is a rare type of alimony. It gets reserved by the court for couples who may not become self-sufficient in the future. Permanent alimony in Florida could become appropriate if the benefiting spouse is advanced in age or disabled. If you take care of special needs minors, you may also qualify for permanent support. Apart from showing unique circumstances, the court also considers the duration of the marriage before deciding on the final award. Permanent, durational, bridge-the-gap, and rehabilitative supports end If the benefiting spouse remarries or the party making the payment dies.
Judges have the discretion to determine the duration, amount, and type of alimony because there is no set formula. Couples can discuss alimony, including the type, duration, and amount. The court intervenes if spouses differ. After the court ascertains the need for support and wherewithal to pay, it considers other factors. Before awarding permanent support, the court should find that no other alimony is appropriate for the spouse. There has to be compelling evidence to support the award of permanent alimony.