On behalf of The Law Office of Gustavo E. Frances, P.A.
We know, even the thought of alimony can give you nightmares. Going through a divorce is tough enough, but trying to figure out the finances in the aftermath can be scary and confusing. At The Law Office Of Gustavo E. Frances, P.A. we want to help you make this process as easy as possible.
Whether you think you will have to pay alimony or think you should be receiving alimony, we want to walk you through some of the basics.
What Is Alimony?
We know you didn’t get into marriage planning on an eventual separation. If it has come to that, you may have to worry about alimony. In short, alimony is the way through which the spouse with greater financial resources supports their ex-spouse until he or she is able to support themselves financially.
There are a few types of alimony that can be awarded in Florida and they revolve around how long the marriage lasted.
- Short-term alimony is awarded in a marriage that lasted fewer than 7 years.
- Moderate-term alimony is awarded for marriages that lasted between 7 and 17 years.
- Long-term alimony is awarded for marriages that lasted longer than 17 years.
The court will look at many things when determining the type of alimony and duration. Temporary alimony payments can be awarded during the divorce proceedings and can be followed up by other types of alimony. Both bridge-the-gap and rehabilitative alimony payments are focused on transitioning a spouse from the marriage to a path in which they can support themselves. This can include while they gain the skills necessary to get a new job.
Durational alimony payments are usually awarded when marriages were shorter and their time frame will not exceed the length of the actual marriage. Permanent alimony payments are awarded for marriages that were longer in duration. When a spouse will not have the ability to maintain themselves, the court will examine their lifestyle during the marriage and try to ensure payments that get them close to that lifestyle.
Most of these alimony payments are monthly, though in some cases, a lump-sum alimony payment can be made for support or a way to equalize assets.
Alimony can be adjusted or stopped. If either party experiences major income changes, the court can be petitioned for a modification. If the receiving spouse remarries, the payments will stop.
What To Do
Alimony can be confusing and frustrating to deal with and you need to secure a good alimony lawyer in Fort Lauderdale to help you through it. At the Law Office of Gustavo E. Frances, we will walk you through the entire process. Whether you will be paying or receiving alimony, we want to ensure that a fair amount is agreed upon, which allows both parties to continue to live their lives. Remember, if there are minor children involved, child support payments will also be affected during these settlements. You can contact us by calling 954-533-2756 for a free consultation.
