What You Need to Know About Alimony in Florida

Florida’s alimony laws changed in 2023. Permanent alimony is no longer available in new divorce cases. Courts now award temporary alimony, bridge the gap alimony, rehabilitative alimony, or durational alimony based on the length of your marriage, your financial need, and your spouse’s ability to pay. Alimony amounts are capped at 35% of the difference in your net incomes.

How Alimony Works in Florida Today

Alimony, also called spousal support, may be awarded after your divorce to help you or your spouse remain financially stable. If you are considering divorce in Florida, you should understand how the law now handles spousal support.

Florida no longer awards permanent alimony for divorces filed after July 1, 2023. Instead, courts award specific types of support with defined purposes and limits.

The Types of Alimony You Should Know

Florida now recognizes four main types of support:

• Temporary Alimony
  This support is paid while your divorce is pending. It helps you cover bills and meet basic needs until your case is finalized, and it does not continue after divorce.
• Bridge the Gap Alimony
  This support lasts up to two years and helps you transition from married life to living independently with identifiable short-term expenses.
• Rehabilitative Alimony
  If you need time to complete education, training, or gain skills so you can earn income on your own, the court may award rehabilitative support tied to a specific plan.
• Durational Alimony
  This is the most common form of longer-term support under the new rules. It is based on the length of your marriage. Unlike the old system, there is no lifetime alimony. Instead, durational alimony is calculated based on the length of your marriage.

You may also consider child custody issues at the same time, as financial support and custody decisions can affect one another. Options like Collaborative Divorce and Mediation can help you handle support and other financial matters.

What Determines Alimony

Courts will not award alimony unless:

1. You show financial need, and
2. The paying spouse has the ability to pay.

Both must be satisfied before support is granted. The amount the court may award is capped at 35% of the difference between your net incomes.

Alimony is not designed to make your incomes equal after divorce, but to address financial need while respecting your spouse’s ability to pay. You can also explore modifications if circumstances change.

Can Alimony Be Changed Later?

Whether alimony can be modified depends on the type of support and the terms of your court order. Durational alimony may be modified if circumstances change significantly and the order does not say it is non-modifiable.

Bridge the gap and many rehabilitative awards usually cannot be changed because they are tied to a specific timeframe or plan.

If you need to adjust other arrangements, such as parenting plans, changes in alimony can sometimes be considered alongside them.

What This Means for Your Divorce

These reforms represented a major shift in Florida’s handling of spousal support. If you are considering divorce:

• Don’t plan on lifetime alimony in new cases; it’s no longer available.
• Alimony depends on the length of your marriage, your financial need, and the ability to pay.
• The court cannot award more than the legal cap.

You may explore options like Collaborative Divorce and Mediation to manage alimony and other issues with guidance from experienced attorneys at Civil Family Resolutions Law Firm.

Take the Next Step

If you are considering divorce and have questions about alimony, you do not have to navigate these changes alone. Attorney Zaneta Matthews and the team at Civil Family Resolutions Law Firm work closely with you to address financial matters and achieve a resolution through Collaborative Divorce or Mediation so you can move forward with confidence.

For more information or to schedule a consultation contact us here.

Civil Family Resolutions Law Firm is located in Central Florida. Our office phone number is (407) 630-8959.

FAQs

How long will alimony last in Florida?
The duration varies by type and the length of your marriage. There is no permanent spousal support in new cases.

Is alimony guaranteed in every Florida divorce?
No. There must be financial need shown, and the paying spouse must have the ability to pay before alimony is awarded.

Can the amount of alimony change after divorce?
Yes. Durational alimony may be modified if circumstances change significantly and the order allows it but bridge the gap and many rehabilitative awards are fixed.