In generations past, alimony (also called maintenance or spousal support) was an amount of money that the husband would have to pay the wife after a divorce because of the common law understanding that it was the husband’s responsibility to provide for the wife. Since most women at the time did not work outside the home, this was necessary. Today, however, alimony can be paid by either the husband or the wife depending on the unique situation of their marriage. Understanding how Florida courts determine whether or not alimony is going to be awarded, and if so, for how much and how long, is important when preparing for a divorce.
Will Alimony Be Awarded?
The first thing to understand is that in most divorce cases, alimony is not awarded at all. This is because in many marriages both spouses work outside the home and have the ability to care for themselves after the marriage. When determining whether or not to award alimony, courts will look at a number of factors including:
Types of Alimony
If the judge decides that alimony will be awarded to one party, the next step is to determine which type of alimony is appropriate. The following options are available in Florida:
Amount of Alimony
The amount of alimony is completely determined by the judge. The only guidelines they must follow is that the alimony amount must be reasonable to help ensure both parties can support themselves going forward.
Get Help with Your Divorce
Whether you want to avoid paying alimony or make sure that you get the alimony you are entitled to, you’re going to need a good family law attorney. Contact the Vasquez de Lara Law group to discuss your situation, and get the representation you need.