Alimony Isn’t Forever Unless It Is The Financially Disadvantaged Spouse’s Only Possible Source Of Financial Support
You have probably heard people complain bitterly about having to pay court-ordered alimony to the ex-spouse that they blame for ruining their finances before and after the divorce, but you should not let the horror stories you have heard from other people make you assume the worst about the outcome of your divorce. You will not necessarily have to hand over a third of your paycheck to your spouse every month for the next decade or deal with your ex trying to nickel and dime you out of every purchase like he did when you were married. If you are leaving a marriage where one spouse has a much higher income than the other, the court may or may not order the other to pay alimony. The court’s goal is to disentangle the two parties’ finances as much as possible, but after a long marriage or one where only one spouse was employed, alimony might be the only feasible option. Except in the case of very long marriages, alimony does not last longer than the amount of time the parties were married. A West Palm Beach alimony and spousal support lawyer can help you agree on an alimony arrangement or enforce or modify an existing alimony order.
The Six Types of Alimony in Florida
If the court orders alimony in your case, it will be the kind of alimony most appropriate to your situation. These are the six types of alimony recognized by Florida law:
- Temporary alimony – The court orders the wealthier spouse to pay the mortgage and other household bills while the divorce is pending. It automatically terminates when the divorce becomes final.
- Bridge-the-gap alimony – This alimony begins when the divorce becomes final. Its recipients tend to be people who were out of the workforce for much of the marriage, and it is meant to give them a deadline to become financially independent.
- Rehabilitative alimony – This alimony lasts until the financially disadvantaged spouse completes an educational or job training program that enables them to enter the workforce.
- Lump sum alimony- This is a set amount, paid all at once or in installments, meant to enable one spouse to buy out the other’s share of a marital asset.
- Durational alimony – The court requires one spouse to pay the other an amount of money that would enable them to maintain a standard of living similar to the former marital lifestyle. This obligation cannot last longer than the duration of the marriage.
- Permanent alimony – If the parties were married for 17 years or more, the court can order the wealthier spouse to pay monthly alimony to the financially disadvantaged spouse until one of them dies or the financially disadvantaged spouse remarries.
Contact a West Palm Beach Alimony & Spousal Support Lawyer Today
An alimony and spousal support lawyer can help you and your spouse agree on a fair alimony arrangement or divide your marital assets in a way that does not require alimony. Contact William Wallshein P.A. in West Palm Beach Florida to discuss your case.
