Florida lawmakers are currently fighting over a bill that aims to end permanent alimony. This is not the first attempt to introduce such a reform. Florida law considers four types of alimony. If you are thinking about getting a divorce, it is essential to be aware of these.
Alimony is not awarded in every Florida divorce. Judges use it when one party needs it, and the other party can afford it. These are the four main types of alimony considered in Florida:
- Bridge the gap alimony: It costs money to go from being in a marriage to being single again. This payment aims to ease that process. The amount cannot be changed, and the payment can only last two years.
- Rehabilitative alimony: Being in a marriage often requires one partner to sacrifice their career. This payment aims to rehabilitate them into the world of work so that they can support themselves financially again. There needs to be a set plan defining the education, reeducation or training that the alimony is to fund.
- Durational alimony: This is for a set period. It cannot be awarded for longer than you have been married. The court will consider how long you’ve been married and the financial independence of the receiver. The amount can be changed, but the number of years the payment lasts cannot.
- Permanent alimony: This is the one that the reform bill aims to do away with. The court must decide that it is the only “fair and reasonable” option given the circumstances. While it is permanent, there are a few circumstances in which it can end.
If you are a professional athlete, you may be earning well now, but your career will not last forever. You need to understand the options available to you in a divorce. If permanent alimony were awarded based on your current income, it could cause you financial difficulties in later life.