What Are the Different Types of Alimony in Florida?

There are four different types of alimony that may be awarded to spouses in Florida during divorce proceedings.

According to the IRS, alimony is a form of payment made from one spouse to another spouse or an ex-spouse in accordance with a divorce or separation agreement. However, more than one type of alimony exists. According to the Florida State Legislature, there are four different forms of alimony, which include bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, durational and permanent, that may be awarded during divorce proceedings in Florida.

The Florida State Legislature states that bridge-the-gap alimony is designed specifically to provide spouses with needed financial support for a limited period of time. For example, a spouse may receive bridge-the-gap alimony to cover the cost of his or her living expenses while waiting for the marital house to sell. A spouse may not receive this type of alimony for more than two years and once an award amount has been determined, it cannot be modified.

Rehabilitative alimony is specifically designed to help divorced spouses acquire necessary education or training for employment, states the Florida State Legislature. However, in order to receive this type of alimony, a spouse must submit a plan that outlines how much time and money is needed to accomplish his or her goals.

This form of alimony may be awarded when other types are not sufficient to meet a spouse’s needs. However, the Florida State Legislature states that the purpose of durational alimony is to provide a divorced or separated spouse with the economic support he or she needs for a certain period of time following a marriage that lasted for a short or moderate period of time. Additionally, durational alimony may be granted after a marriage that lasted for a long period of time, but the spouse does not need financial support on a permanent basis.

When spouses lack the financial ability to meet their needs for the necessities of life after the dissolution of their marriage, permanent alimony may be awarded, states the Florida State Legislature. This type of alimony is usually granted after a marriage of moderate duration dissolves or after a marriage that lasted for a short period of time ends and exceptional circumstances are present. When determining if permanent alimony will be awarded, the court will consider factors like:

• The standard of living established during the marriage
• The age and emotional condition of each spouse
• The financial resources each party possesses

Once the decision to divorce is made, spouses in Florida may become extremely concerned about how their finances will be affected by ending their marriage. If you and your spouse are contemplating divorce, speak with an attorney in your area to find out what type of alimony may be awarded to you.