Category Archives: Alimony
Alimony Payments May be Modified by Retirement
If you are forking over a huge alimony payment every month and it’s causing you to question whether you can afford to retire, you will be happy to know that the Florida legislature has made spousal maintenance modification an option for you at retirement age. While there are a number of factors that must… Read More »
When Alimony Modification is in Order
You’ve been making your alimony payments regularly for years, but now you’re feeling the squeeze because things have changed. Is there any chance you can modify those payments? When is a Modification in Order? Sometimes changing circumstances justify a change in court-ordered spousal maintenance. If your ex wins a $10 million lottery, for example,… Read More »
Good-bye to Permanent Alimony in Florida
It’s been in the works for a while now, and many hoped it would never come to this: but an overhaul to Florida’s alimony laws was signed into law this year, and the changes will be monumental. SB 1416: Alimony Recipient’s Take on it Under SB 1416 permanent alimony has been eliminated, and replaced… Read More »
Alimony Reform Legislation Slapped Down Again
If you’ve pinned your hopes on legislative action to reduce your alimony payments, you’re going to be disappointed. Despite promises to overhaul what some consider pernicious alimony laws, the legislature kicked the can down the road one more time. A Battle with Warriors on Both Sides The battle over alimony laws in the Sunshine… Read More »
Does the Length of My Marriage Matter When It Comes to Alimony?
When it comes to alimony, Florida places significant weight on the duration of the parties’ marriage. State law divides marriages into three categories: marriages of less than 7 years are considered “short term”; marriages of between 7 and 17 years are considered “moderate term”; and marriages of 17 years or more are considered “long… Read More »
Does the Length of My Marriage Automatically Entitle Me to Alimony?
A Florida judge will not automatically grant a request for alimony in a divorce case. However, when a spouse seeks alimony following the breakdown of a “long-term marriage,” i.e., a marriage that lasted 17 years or more, there is a legally “rebuttable presumption” in favor of an award of permanent alimony. This presumption can… Read More »
Do I Still Have to Pay Alimony If My Ex Is Living With a New Partner?
Historically, Florida law automatically terminates an award of alimony if and when the receiving spouse remarries. But there are other situations where the recipient spouse does not remarry but “cohabits” with another person. In these cases, the former spouse paying alimony may ask the court to modify or end this obligation based on the… Read More »
Will Reducing My Post-Divorce Expenses Affect My Alimony?
When a Florida judge awards “permanent” alimony in a divorce, that does not mean the duration or amount is etched in stone. As each former spouse’s financial circumstances change, either party may petition the court for a modification of a spousal support award. But it is critical for the court to fairly and impartially… Read More »
How Will Retirement Affect My Obligation to Pay Alimony?
When a former spouse is required to pay permanent periodic alimony as part of a divorce judgment, that means the receiving spouse is entitled to receive such payments indefinitely. But if there is a change in the parties’ circumstances, either former spouse may petition the court for modification of the alimony order. Keep in… Read More »
