On behalf of The Law Office of Gustavo E. Frances, P.A.
When getting a divorce in Florida, one spouse may be ordered to make alimony payments to the other. Courts will account for various factors when determining whether alimony is necessary, who should make alimony payments, how much they should pay, and how long alimony should last.
The length of the marriage is one such factor. Keep reading to learn more about how it may impact your alimony arrangement.
Short-Term Marriages
Florida courts consider short-term marriages to be those that last less than seven years. If a marriage was relatively short in Florida, the court will often award rehabilitative alimony.
This type of alimony isn’t permanent. Its purpose is to help the one receiving alimony transition from married life to single life. Although arrangements can vary on a case-by-case basis, often, this type of alimony lasts no more than two years. During that time, the one receiving alimony should strive to learn professional skills, get an education, or otherwise position themselves to address their own financial needs once alimony stops.
Moderate-Length Marriages
A marriage that lasted between seven and 17 years may be considered a moderate-length marriage in Florida. When a moderate-length marriage ends, a court will still typically award a type of alimony that only lasts for a set period of time.
However, that period of time may be longer than two years. For example, it may be the length of the marriage. That means if you were married to someone for 10 years, alimony may last for 10 years.
That doesn’t mean there aren’t exceptions. As always, because these cases can be complicated, it’s wise to discuss the issue in greater detail with your attorney. A Florida alimony lawyer can help you better understand the factors that might influence your alimony arrangement.
Long-Term Marriages
Florida courts usually consider marriages that last longer than 17 years to be long-term marriages. Although a court might order alimony that lasts for a specified duration when a long-term marriage ends in divorce, in these circumstances, the court may be more inclined to award permanent alimony.
Permanent alimony is designed to provide the recipient spouse with ongoing financial support. It often lasts until the recipient spouse remarries or dies.
Factors Considered by the Court
Again, the length of the marriage is one of several factors the court will account for when making a decision about alimony. Other factors the court may take into account include (but aren’t necessarily limited to) the following:
- Each spouse’s financial resources
- The standard of living that was established in a marriage
- The age of each spouse
- The physical condition of each spouse
For more information, enlist the help of an experienced legal professional. At the Law Office of Gustavo E. Frances, a Fort Lauderdale alimony attorney will not only answer your questions, but will also provide the representation you need to optimize the chances of the court making the proper decision about alimony. Get started today by contacting us online or calling us at 954-533-2756.
