Alimony Attorneys in Jacksonville

Alimony is spousal support awarded as part of a divorce settlement. In some cases, temporary alimony may be ordered by the court following a petition for divorce. This should not have any bearing on the final alimony order.

The state of Florida will consider alimony payments based on the “needs” and “ability to pay” of each party. Spousal support is in addition to, not in lieu of other issues such as child support and property division.

The experienced Alimony Attorneys in Jacksonville at Hardesty, Tyde, Green & Ashton, P.A. know how complex divorce proceedings can be. Please call us at 904-468-3482 today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced divorce lawyer.

Calculating Alimony

In Florida, the court may calculate alimony based on the following factors:

• The length of marriage
• The standard of living during the marriage
• The age and health of both spouses
• The financial resources and available income sources of each spouse
• The education level and earning capacity of each spouse
• Contributions each party has made to the success of the other
• The child-rearing responsibilities of each spouse

Unlike child support, there is no standard calculation for alimony in the state of Florida. The court looks at each case individually to determine if alimony is appropriate, at what rate, and for what duration.

As noted, the Court considers the length of the marriage as a factor to determine which type of alimony is appropriate.

• A short term marriage is less than 7 years
• A moderate term marriage is more than 7 years but less than 17 years

A long term marriage is 17 years or longer

Bridge-the-gap alimony may be awarded to assist a party by providing support to allow the party to make a transition from being married to single and is designed to assist a party with legitimate identifiable short-term needs for up to 2 years.  This alimony ends on death of either party or upon remarriage of the receiving party and is not modifiable in amount or duration.

Rehabilitative alimony may be awarded to assist a party to establish the capacity for self support through the redevelopment of previous skills/credentials or through education, training, or work experience necessary to develop employment skills.

This type alimony requires a specific and defined rehabilitative plan and may be modified or terminated pursuant to section 61.14 Florida Statutes upon a substantial change in circumstances, noncompliance with the plan or completion of the plan.

Durational alimony may be awarded when permanent alimony is not appropriate. It provides a party with economic assistance for a set period of time following a short or moderate-term marriage. No rehabilitative plan is needed. It terminates on the death of either party or remarriage of the receiving party.

The amount may be modified or terminated upon a substantial change in circumstances pursuant to 61.14 and may not exceed the length of the marriage.

Permanent alimony provides for the needs and necessities of life as they were established during the marriage for a party who cannot financially meet their needs and necessities of life after divorce.

This may be awarded after a long-term, moderate-term upon consideration of certain factors, or short-term marriage if there are exceptional factors. It terminates on the death of either party or remarriage of the receiving party.

The award may be modified or terminated upon a substantial change in circumstances or upon the existence of a supportive relationship pursuant to 61.14.

Alimony Attorneys in Jacksonville, Florida are Here to Help

The divorce lawyers at our firm are specially trained in Florida family law. We know how emotionally trying these cases can be and are prepared to do everything possible to ease your divorce process and ensure the most equitable outcome.

We can review your financial situation and help you protect yourself during all stages of your divorce. We are interested in the outcome most beneficial to our clients and will do whatever it takes to make your transition as smooth and painless as possible.

If you need assistance with alimony or any other issue related to family law or divorce, please contact the Alimony Attorneys in Jacksonville at Hardesty, Tyde, Green & Ashton, P.A. today to schedule an initial consultation.