Category Archives: Alimony
Alternatives to Traditional Alimony
Recent changes to the federal tax code have had a significant effect on how alimony payments are handled during divorce, as former spouses who make spousal maintenance payments no longer qualify for a tax deduction. Furthermore, alimony recipients must now pay income taxes on all payments that they receive from a former spouse. Both… Read More »
Calculating Income for Alimony and Child Support Purposes
One of the most important factors that courts assess when setting alimony and child support awards is both parties’ incomes. Although wages and salaries may come to mind first when considering what qualifies as income, these are not the only sources of funds that the courts treat as income. For this reason, divorcing couples… Read More »
When is a Lump-Sum Alimony Payment in My Best Interests?
Under Florida law, judges are permitted to require one spouse to pay alimony to the other once a couple’s divorce is finalized. Although in some cases, judges are willing to award alimony on a permanent basis, it is much more common for one spouse to receive a temporary award. These types of alimony awards… Read More »
An Overview of Alimony Awards in Florida
One of the issues with which divorcing couples must grapple after filing for divorce is whether one of the parties will be required to provide spousal maintenance to the other, either on a short-term or long-term basis. Which of these arrangements applies depends in large part on the parties’ financial circumstances, as well as… Read More »
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 »
