Understanding the Different Types of Alimony in Florida

Florida alimony laws provide for different categories of alimony. They include rehabilitative, permanent, durational, temporary, and bridge-the-gap spousal support. Divorcing spouses can negotiate alimony conditions, including duration, amount, and type of support. If you disagree, a judge has no option but to analyze the situation and decide on your behalf. Spouses who want to avoid court drama and unnecessary delays opt to settle the alimony issue privately. Rehabilitative support is one of the popular categories of alimony in our state. The money gets awarded when the receiving party needs financial assistance and time to become self-sufficient. In the intermediate time, the benefiting spouse acquires training, an education, work experience, or skills necessary to join the workforce. Rehabilitative support can only get awarded after spouses create a defined and specific plan.

Temporary alimony is given to a spouse in financial need during a divorce process. The requesting party should demonstrate the need for help and show the court that the other party has the means to pay. The financial assistance allows the low-income earning spouse to become financially stable in the cause of a protracted divorce process. It ends after the marriage gets dissolved. Bridge-the-gap alimony is rare in other states except for Florida. The support helps the recipient to cover short-term requirements as they transition from marriage to singlehood. The money can pay some bills and other miscellaneous expenses as they wait for an asset to sell or as they attempt to get a full-time job after divorce. There is a time limit for every type of divorce except for permanent alimony.

Durational support gets offered to a spouse who needs assistance for some time but does not qualify to receive permanent support. Durational alimony is limited in that it cannot exceed the time the marriage lasted. Permanent alimony is rare because it is only available to spouses that may not become self-sufficient at any time. It is often appropriate for spouses that are disabled, aged, or spouses that take care of special needs minor kids. The court also considers other factors before ordering permanent alimony, like the length of a marriage. It is fundamental to comply with alimony laws, failure to which financial support can get terminated.