Fort Lauderdale Spousal Support & Alimony

Apart from handling the emotional, psychological, and social effects of a marriage’s end, divorcees must unfortunately also carry the burden of corresponding financial and legal matters, which can typically be tough in such situations. But you don’t have to face this alone. For all your Fort Lauderdale spousal support & alimony legal needs, Ft Lauderdale Divorce Attorneys is here to help.

In some divorce cases, ex-couples can be left with unequal economic statuses. One may happen to have substantially more financial resources than the other. Regarding the side of the less privileged spouse, legally mandated financial support, which is called alimony, can be awarded. This is common for spouses who, say, had to sacrifice a career or education for the marriage; or those who will take custody of the children. Alimonies are demanded from the more financially privileged spouse.

Identifying whether or not a spouse must give or receive alimony depends on the law and the court’s decision. Whether you’re the one who is eligible for alimony or the one who may be obligated to provide alimony, the law provides for your rights regarding such situations. At Ft Lauderdale Divorce Attorneys, our team of competent attorneys is composed of experts in marriage and financial laws, and we are here to offer our professional services.

Need legal assistance for your alimony case? Contact us today. We’re here not just to evaluate your case and represent you in court but also to help you understand everything you need to know about applicable laws and the legal steps you can take.

Call Ft Lauderdale Divorce Attorneys at (954) 371-2993 for your Free Consultation!

Overview

The main purpose of alimony is to give the less privileged ex-spouse a chance to have financial rehabilitation for a period of time. In some cases, the alimony is required to reach an amount sufficient for daily life if the marriage lasted for 17 years and above. Typically, financially privileged ex-spouses expect to be required to pay for the alimony. But there are also many cases where they refuse to pay alimony to a person they’re no longer legally married to. This is where court trials and marriage law attorneys come to negotiate and dispute.

Florida law provides many different factors that need to be considered when deciding if a person must receive or give alimony to their ex-spouse. An example is the duration of the marriage, which can be classified as long-term, moderate-term, or short-term, with each type entailing specific considerations. Other factors include the needs of the receiving spouse or the ability to pay of the provider spouse.

An order to pay for alimony, once finalized by a court judge, must be followed by the proper time and amount. Otherwise, the provider may face horrible legal penalties, including fines, being held in contempt, or jail time.

Factors in Determining Alimony

A court-ordered demand for alimony is not needed if there’s already a marital settlement agreement (MSA), which is a contract that details the terms and conditions of the divorce. Otherwise, the court will be the one to determine the need to receive and provide for alimony. The judge will use many factors provided by law and presented by both parties’ lawyers to determine the final settlement. These factors may include:

1. Each spouse’s earning capacity
2. Each spouse’s physical health
3. Each spouse’s emotional disposition
4. Each spouse’s age
5. Each spouse’s contribution to the marriage, even those that are not related to income-generation such as child care, housekeeping, education, and career-building
6. Each spouse’s financial status, which includes marital and nonmarital assets and liabilities
7. The length of the marriage
8. The couple’s standard of living during the marriage
9. All other factors that the court may find necessary to make sure they make a fair decision

Types of Alimony in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

There is more than one type of alimony that a Florida judge can order.

Bridge-the-gap alimony. The purpose of this type is to provide financial support to the short-term needs of the receiving party so they can have a decent transition from marriage to being single. This type cannot be modified and can only last up to two years or until one of the ex-spouses dies.

Rehabilitative alimony. Like the bridge-the-gap alimony, this type of support is temporary and primarily aimed at giving the receiving party a chance to bounce back in life by developing employable qualities and improving their self-sufficiency. However, when certain changes happen while the order is still in place, such as when the providing party is being uncooperative or when the rehabilitation plan is satisfied, the order’s terms can be modified accordingly.

Permanent alimony. This type of alimony is chosen if the bridge-the-gap or rehabilitative types are not applicable. It has three categories:

1. Short-term – seven years below
2. Moderate-term – between 7 and 17 years
3. Long-term – 17 years above

Durational alimony. If a permanent alimony order is considered unfair for a specific case, only durational alimony is ordered. This generally applies to short-term or moderate-term marriages. In this type, the amount of alimony can be modified, and the duration must not be longer than the length of the marriage.

The type of alimony can be proposed, argued, and granted in court. So in getting the best results for your Fort Lauderdale spousal support & alimony case, it is best to get the services of a trusted, proven, and highly qualified attorney who specializes in marriage law in Florida—and you can get the best one at Ft Lauderdale Divorce Attorneys.

Modifications on Alimony

Alimony orders typically last for many years. Significant changes can happen in the lives of the two parties, and these changes may be enough reason to modify certain terms in the alimony agreement. Situations that may call for an alimony modification filing include:

1. Loss of the paying spouse’s job
2. A decrease in the paying spouse’s income
3. Retirement of the paying spouse
4. Illness or disability of the paying spouse
5. Increase in the salary of the paying spouse
6. Decent employment of the receiving spouse
7. Re-marriage of the receiving spouse

If you think changes must be made to your alimony order, you can call our office today at (954) 371-2993, and we’ll be ready to help you find the best options you can take.

Best Alimony Attorneys in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Whether you’re the half of a divorce who is expected to pay for alimony or the one bound to receive, you have rights stated in Florida laws that must be protected with adequate legal resources. That is why Ft Lauderdale Divorce Attorneys specializes in marriage and alimony laws.

We are a team of attorneys who are seasoned in our line of work. We are deeply familiar with the ins and outs of marriage law. We have many years of experience handling people from all walks of life who have legal issues with their marriage and divorce. We know what to do through every step of the divorce process, and we’re here to walk with you throughout your journey.

We are here to thoroughly study your case, comprehensively inform you on everything you need to know, and passionately represent you in court. We ensure a smoother process for you no matter how difficult your situation may be. With experts by your side, you can rest assured that you’re making the best decisions possible to protect your rights and get the best out of your divorce.

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Let’s Talk – Dedicated Family Law Firm

Fort Lauderdale spousal support and alimony cases are more often than not complex. If you need legal experts whom you can trust, look no further than Ft Lauderdale Divorce Attorneys. We guarantee the full force of our legal resources to make sure you get adequate legal support throughout your divorce process.

Call Ft Lauderdale Divorce Attorneys at (954) 371-2993 for your Free Consultation!