The significance of Alimony to Needy Spouses during and After Divorce

Alimony is an option that spouses can use to remain financially stable in case of a divorce. There are five alimony categories in Florida. We have temporary, permanent, durational, rehabilitative, and bridge-the-gap alimonies. Couples are allowed to negotiate alimony terms, including duration, amount, and category of spousal support. The court can intervene and evaluate the situation if spouses disagree. Temporary support gets granted to spouses who need support during a protracted divorce. The court ensures that the requesting spouse needs support and that the paying spouse has the means before granting temporary alimony. The payments help the low-income earning spouses to become financially stable during a divorce. The alimony terminates after the judge dissolves the marriage.

Bridge-the-gap alimony is one of the few spousal support categories available to spouses in Florida. The payments help the receiving spouses to pay for their intermediate expenses as they transition to singlehood. Needy spouses can use the support amount to pay living expenses and other bills as they sell an asset or as they find full-time employment. The support granted may not exceed a specified period. It terminates if the benefiting spouse remarries or after the paying party dies. Rehabilitative support is one of the popular categories of spousal support in Florida. It gets awarded in instances where one spouse could become self-sufficient given financial assistance and space to acquire an education, work experience, training, and skills to enter the job market.

Spouses should come up with a defined and specified rehabilitative plan before rehabilitative support gets granted. Durational support is suitable where a spouse needs support for a specified duration after a divorce. It gets granted to spouses who fall short of the requirement for permanent support. This type of alimony should not last for a period exceeding the marriage duration. Permanent support is reserved for a spouse who may never become self-sufficient at any point in the future. It is often appropriate for disabled and aged spouses. Inquire from your attorney about the options that suit your situation best.