Category Archives: Alimony
Permanent Alimony Bill Dies in Subcommittee
Over the last few years, a number of Florida lawmakers have proposed revising the state’s family law code to abolish the ordering of permanent alimony by courts across the state. This year was no exception, as House Bill 1325 was filed earlier in 2019, and if passed, would have gone into effect in July…. Read More »
The Importance of Conducting a Vocational Evaluation During Your Divorce
While a vocational evaluation may seem like an assessment that could only play a role in job placement, the reality is that this type of expert opinion can also be highly beneficial during divorce. For instance, vocational evaluations can play a crucial role when it comes to making decisions about alimony and child support… Read More »
Enforcing an Alimony Award Through Wage Garnishment
A former spouse’s failure to pay alimony as ordered by the court is not only frustrating, but can also place the recipient in a difficult financial situation. Fortunately, Florida courts have a number of options when it comes to enforcing spousal maintenance judgments, including garnishment. To learn more about enforcing your own divorce decree,… Read More »
How is Alimony Determined in Florida?
When a couple decides to file for divorce and is unable to come to an agreement on whether one spouse will have the right to receive spousal maintenance, a court will be required to step in and make this determination on their behalf. However, before a court will award spousal maintenance during divorce, a… Read More »
Modifying Alimony
Alimony, or spousal maintenance, is monetary support provided by one former spouse to another after divorce. Alimony awards can either be temporary or permanent, depending on whether they are rehabilitative in nature and while these designations are usually permanent, they can be changed. However, modifying an alimony award can be difficult, as it requires… Read More »
Why You Should Consider Obtaining a Vocational Evaluation During Your Divorce
When it comes to determining whether one spouse will owe alimony to the other upon the dissolution of their marriage, courts take a number of factors into account, including each party’s earning ability, work history, and whether one spouse is primarily responsible for childcare. Obtaining a vocational evaluation can be crucial when deciding how… Read More »
Terminating Alimony
In Florida, those who are required to pay alimony are allowed to ask the courts for a modification of the payment schedule or amount, but only if they can demonstrate a substantial change in their financial circumstances. However, it is also possible to completely terminate periodic alimony payments. In fact, this occurs automatically when… Read More »
Is Lump Sum Alimony Considered Extra Income for Tax Purposes?
In prior years, all alimony payments in Florida were subject to taxes and deductions, as they were treated as extra income by the recipient. However, as a result of the passage of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which was enacted late last year and goes into effect this coming January, spousal support payments… Read More »
What are the Consequences of Failing to Pay Alimony in Florida?
Those who fail to comply with court orders in Florida face stiff penalties. This is especially true in family law cases, where a failure to pay child support or alimony as required by the court could have a serious impact on a child or former spouse’s quality of life. If your own ex-spouse is… Read More »
Short-Term Marriages and Permanent Alimony
Under Florida law, permanent alimony is usually only awarded when the marriage being dissolved lasted for at least a moderate length of time and there is convincing evidence that the award is appropriate. Fortunately, there is an exception for those whose marriages were short-term, although it can still be difficult to receive permanent alimony… Read More »
