Orlando Alimony Attorney

Person removing wedding ring as they're looking at divorce papers

Alimony is often an important consideration for couples facing divorce. Going through a divorce is not only an emotional burden; economic consequences also accompany a marital breakup. Often, both spouses are not equally prepared to meet the financial challenges of a new life, particularly if one spouse has become financially dependent on the other. Depending on the circumstances, temporary or permanent spousal support may be awarded to a spouse in need of assistance. Whether you are seeking spousal support or believe you may be required to pay, it is crucial to work with an experienced family law attorney.

Orlando Alimony Lawyer

Orlando Family Team provides comprehensive legal services to clients in Central Florida and throughout Orlando, Winter Park, Sanford, and Orange County on all aspects of divorce including alimony, commonly referred to as spousal support. Our husband and wife team is well-versed in the current laws governing spousal support in Florida and the factors involved in spousal support determinations. While we believe it is best for both parties to reach negotiated divorce settlements, we are fully prepared to litigate alimony, or other forms of spousal support disputes in court. Above all, we will work tirelessly to make sure that your financial future is protected.

Who is Entitled to Alimony in Florida?

It is important to note that spousal support is not guaranteed. Nonetheless, either spouse may be required to pay, regardless of gender. Unless the parties can agree, the court will make a determination whether to award spousal support based on factors such as:

  • The couple’s standard of living during the marriage
  • The duration of the marriage and the age of each spouse
  • The earning power of the spouse seeking alimony
  • The paying spouse’s ability to pay spousal support
  • Each spouse’s contribution to the marriage, including homemaking
  • The parenting and time-sharing plan, if applicable
  • Whether one party is also receiving child support
  • A spouse’s need for additional education or training to secure employment
  • The mental, physical, and emotional health of each spouse

If you are in the Orlando, Winter Park, or Orange County area and believe you may be entitled to alimony, it is imperative to have aggressive legal representation. When you come to Orlando Family Team, you can trust us to fight for the spousal support you deserve. Knowing that spousal support is a thorny issue that has ramifications for everyone concerned, we will help you find a solution that works for the entire family.

What Types of Spousal Support are Available in Florida?

There are several types of alimony available under state law, but the main ones are:

  • Rehabilitative alimony — This form of support is designed to provide the receiving spouse with the resources necessary to develop skills and training to secure employment, which may include returning to college or vocational school, or obtaining some type of license. Rehabilitative alimony is typically tied to a requirement for the recipient to achieve financial independence from the ex-spouse.
  • Bridge-the-gap alimony -– This type of spousal support provides immediate funds to the recipient to acclimate to his or her post-divorce life. Bridge-the-gap alimony can either be awarded on a temporary basis, to assist the recipient with finding an apartment or buying a car, or it can be a lump sum payment. If it is paid over time, however, the duration is limited to 2 years.
  • Durational alimony — This form of spousal support is temporary spousal support that the court may choose to award if rehabilitative or bridge-the-gap alimony is insufficient to meet the recipient’s needs. In any event, durational alimony is limited to the actual length of the marriage.
  • Permanent alimony — This type of spousal support is reserved for marriages of moderate or longer duration, typically between 7 and 17 years, and is rarely awarded for short duration marriages (less than 7 years). Permanent alimony is designed to provide for the financial needs of a spouse who cannot support him/herself and terminates upon (1) the death of either spouse, (2) the remarriage of the recipient, or (3) cohabitation of the recipient.

What is the new alimony law in Florida 2023?

In 2022, Florida passed a new alimony law that went into effect January 1, 2023. The law ends permanent alimony in Florida, limiting alimony awards to a maximum duration based on the length of the marriage. For marriages under 2 years, alimony is awarded for no more than 25% of the length of the marriage. For marriages between 2-10 years, alimony lasts no more than 75% of the marriage length. For marriages over 10 years, there is no duration limit. The law also creates an income assumption for the alimony recipient to have potential income equal to the federal minimum wage. Exceptions allow the court to deviate from duration limits and income assumptions based on circumstances like age, health, earning capacity, and other factors. The law applies to all alimony agreements signed after January 1, 2023.

How does Florida calculate alimony?

Florida uses several factors to calculate alimony amounts and duration under the new 2023 law. The court considers prior standard of living, age, physical and emotional condition of parties, financial resources including assets, income potential, liabilities, and more. The new law limits alimony to no more than 55% of the paying spouse’s net monthly income.

If you are divorcing, it is essential to work with experienced alimony attorneys so that your interests will be protected. Our husband and wife team have a proven history of helping clients resolve divorce and spousal support issues in a way that is fair and reasonable to both parties.

Contact our Orlando, FL Alimony Lawyer

When you become our client, we will take the time to understand your unique circumstances and explain your rights. We work with clients from all walks of life, including middle-income families and high net-worth couples, and also have extensive experience handling military divorces.

If you are seeking a negotiated marital settlement, we can help to reach an agreement on spousal support without judicial intervention. If no agreement is reached, we will argue before the court as to why alimony is or is not warranted for your case. Finally, we also work with clients who are seeking a modification of a prior spousal support agreement or award. Regardless of your circumstances, you can rest assured that we will make sure that you are treated fairly. Please contact our office for a free evaluation of your case.

Orlando Family Team helps families with collecting or determining Alimony in Orlando and other locations in Florida including Maitland, Orange County, Osceola County, Sanford, Seminole County, Volusia County, and Winter Park.