If you reside in Florida and are getting prepared to divorce, spousal support may be available to you. Often, support of this nature is vital to a spouse who is ending a long-term marriage. This is especially so for a spouse who remained in the home while the other spouse built a career.
Florida offers several different types of spousal support in order to meet the needs of a wide variety of people. The type of alimony, if any, you are awarded will depend upon a variety of factors. Some of these include the length of the marriage, age, physical and emotional health and income-earning capacity, just to name a few.
Permanent alimony is the type of support most people are familiar with. It does not have a set end date and may continue indefinitely until the receiving spouse either remarries or passes away.
Durational alimony is a temporary type of spousal support lasting only for a set period. Once the period expires, the alimony ends. A court can order durational alimony or it can be agreed upon by both spouses.
Rehabilitative alimony is becoming a common choice for courts and couples alike. It lasts for only a limited time and is used to aid the receiving spouse in redeveloping work skills and achieving financial independence.
Finally, lump-sum alimony may also be an option. As you might have surmised by its name, this type of support is paid all at once in one lump sum. The payment can be made with either money or property.
Many people find it beneficial to acquire professional legal guidance when seeking alimony. This representation can also help you decide what type of spousal support will best meet your short- and long-term needs.
Source: FindLaw, “Florida Spousal Support or Alimony Laws,” accessed Aug. 16, 2016