Alimony is not calculated using objective measurements. According to Florida Statutes, the court considers adultery, length of the marriage, contributions to the marriage, sources of income, earning capacities and the standard of living for each spouse. Any other factors that might influence the need for alimony also come into consideration.
If you have a high net worth and are in the process of divorce, alimony is a very likely outcome. Continue reading to learn about the different types of alimony and what you might expect from your situation.
Permanent
Permanent alimony is not common. Realistically the only times a court awards permanent alimony is for spouses who cannot provide for themselves. Reasons for this might be old age, disabilities or caring for a child with special needs. The length of marriage also factors into the decision.
Bridge-the-gap
Florida allows bridge-the-gap alimony. This is a form of temporary maintenance that pays the spouse during the transition from married to single. The limit for bridge-the-gap alimony is two years.
Rehabilitative
Rehabilitative alimony aims to assist the spouse while they gain self-sufficiency. This is useful for spouses who did not hold a job while married. To qualify for rehabilitative support, the spouse must present a retraining plan and realistic expectations for how long it will take to become self-supporting again.
Lump sum
Sometimes the courts decide a lump sum is sufficient. Usually, this only happens if permanent alimony is not viable because of the poor health of the paying spouse.
This article cannot cover every form of alimony. If you want to avoid maintenance, your best option is to agree before a trial becomes necessary.