Category Archives: Alimony
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 »
How the New Tax Law Will Affect Alimony Payments in Florida
Although you may have heard that the recently enacted tax law will make wide ranging changes in a number of areas, you may not be aware that some of the biggest changes were made to laws regulating alimony. To learn more about how these changes could affect your own alimony payments, please contact an… Read More »
Stay-at-Home Spouses and Filing for Divorce
Although the divorce process does not vary based on the parties’ occupations, stay-at-home spouses do face unique difficulties. For example, spouses who chose to halt their career in favor of supporting their partner and raising children must immediately begin addressing concerns about financial support. This often manifests as concern over the feasibility of returning… Read More »
Overdue Alimony
Alimony payments are often awarded to help supplement one spouse’s income until he or she is able to complete vocational training or find a better paying job. This is especially common among those who were married for a significant amount of time and were not employed, so that they could care for the couple’s… Read More »
Thoughts About “Lifetime Alimony” — Using Well-Crafted Premarital Agreement
Alimony reform continues to be a hot topic here in Florida. Back in January 2017, bills were introduced to, once again, try and reform Florida’s alimony laws. Last year, the legislature passed alimony reform. Under what was labeled SB 668, judges were denied the ability to award so-called “lifetime alimony” payments. SB 668 replaced… Read More »
How Much Alimony Will You Get?
Across the United States, over 450,000 individuals receive alimony payments. While many of these individuals greatly rely on these payments, alimony payments are some of the most highly contested issues in a divorce. In many cases, divorces can carry on for years as spouses dispute potential spousal support (alimony payments). The exact way alimony… Read More »
Divorce & Social Security Spousal Benefits: What Might Surprise You
Many people assume that, once they divorce, they couldn’t possibly claim spousal benefits on their ex-partner’s earnings. However, that isn’t necessarily true; in some circumstances, you can claim spousal benefits after divorce, even if your ex has remarried. There are a number of factors involved in determining whether one can continue to claim spousal… Read More »
What Getting Divorced Can Teach Us about Money
Sometimes reading about people’s personal experiences after divorce can help us realize that, although the prospect of splitting from your partner can seem daunting, it can also end up making you both stronger and wiser. One particular piece recently published in Refinery29 does just this; it explores how one woman’s journey into financial independence… Read More »
Governor Scott Vetoes Changes to Alimony and Child Custody in Florida
On April 15th, Governor Rick Scott vetoed the controversial family law proposal that would have forced judges to use a specific formula in calculating alimony (entirely based on number of years of marriage and combined incomes), and would have eliminated permanent alimony entirely. Perhaps the most controversial aspect of the proposal was the last-minute… Read More »
Child Custody Measure Approved in Florida Senate
Currently there is tremendous division in the Florida legislature over SB 250, the child custody measure that just passed the state Senate. Some say that it would place women, in particular, at a disadvantage by setting the default to a 50-50 child custody plan and forcing them to hire attorneys, go back to court… Read More »
