Palm Beach Alimony Lawyer

Alimony2023-06-09T09:46:43-05:00

What is Alimony?

Alimony, also known as spousal support, is a sum of money that is paid from one spouse to the other because of a divorce. Alimony can be paid as a one-time lump sum payment or in installments, over months or years. The reasoning behind alimony is to allow the poorer spouse to have the same or a similar lifestyle that he/she had during the marriage. For some spouses, these payments are critical to their financial security. Both men and women can receive alimony.

How much will I Receive for Alimony?

The legal alimony test in Florida is not based on a mathematical formula. It is a “needs” based test; one spouse needs alimony and the other has the ability to pay it. The length of a marriage also determines the likelihood that the court will award alimony to a petitioning spouse.

Different Types of Alimony

There are five different types of alimony:

  • Permanent: This type of alimony is as its name suggests. It is permanent until the remarriage of the receiving spouse or the death of either the wife or husband.
  • Rehabilitative: The idea behind rehabilitative alimony is to allow a spouse to become self-supporting. Here, alimony payments are not forever but are paid for a duration of time. The spouse seeking alimony usually has a plan to return to school or acquire job skills and the payor spouse would finance that plan.
  • Bridge-the-Gap: This allows the husband or wife to make the transition from married life to single life. For example, a spouse in this situation may have to get a new apartment, afford health insurance on their own, or acquire reliable transportation. Bridge-the-Gap alimony cannot last for more than 2 years.
  • Durational: Durational alimony is paid for a specific period of time, in cases where there is a short or moderate-term marriage. It provides financial assistance to the receiving spouse and ends if either spouse dies or the receiving spouse remarries. An award of durational alimony cannot go beyond the length of the marriage.
  • Alimony Pendente Lite: This is also known as “lawsuit money.” It is temporary and can be provided from the date of the divorce filing, until settlement or trial.

How the Length of a Marriage Affects Alimony Payments

Marriages are placed into three different categories, according to duration:

  • Long-term: a marriage that lasts for 17 years or longer;
  • Moderate-term: a marriage greater than 7 years but less than 17 years; and
  • Short-term: a marriage which lasts for 7 years or less

The length of the marriage will affect the type of alimony that a spouse can receive, the amount of payments and whether the award is modifiable.

Alimony Lawyer- Aggressive Representation for New Cases, Modification or Enforcement

Whether you have a new alimony case, modification on an existing case or you need to enforce an alimony order because you former spouse has stopped paying, Attorney Fletcher is dedicated to representing you. In new cases, she aims to get you the maximum amount of spousal maintenance that you are entitled to, whether through negotiation or trial. Similarly, she provides the highest quality representation if you need to modify or enforce a court order. She has fought for many clients who were in the same position as yourself. Reach out to us for a confidential consultation at 561-507-5772, and let us help you with any alimony situation that you are experiencing.

Alimony FAQs

Am I Entitled to Receive Spousal Support or Will I Have to Pay My Spouse?2020-08-08T02:17:13-05:00

If you are a dependent spouse, you may be entitled to spousal support. Spousal support determinations can be complicated because of the discretion given to the court. An experienced attorney can present your case effectively. The court will consider a number of factors listed below, in determining alimony payments:

  • The earning capacity of each party;
  • The standard of living established during the marriage;
  • The earnings and marketable skills of each party;
  • Whether a party devoted time to domestic duties and child rearing at the expense of career pursuits;
  • The ability of the higher earning party to pay support;
  • The obligations and assets, including separate property held by you and your spouse;
  • The duration of your marriage;
  • The ages of the parties;
  • The ability of the supported spouse to obtain gainful employment;
  • Whether time is needed for the supported spouse to pursue further education and training to obtain employment;
  • Whether there is a documented history of domestic violence in the marriage; and
  • The tax consequences of a spousal support order.
Can I Get Alimony if I am not Divorced?2020-07-19T03:17:33-05:00

Yes. You may qualify for alimony even if you have not filed for a divorce. Florida statutes, section 61.09, allows a spouse who is not receiving support to apply to the court for alimony, without seeking a dissolution of marriage. The other spouse must have the ability to pay spousal maintenance.

Do I Still Have to Pay Spousal Support if My Ex Remarries?2020-07-19T03:12:38-05:00

It depends. A commonly raised defense to alimony is that the spouse seeking maintenance is in a supportive relationship and does not need maintenance. This argument works for alimony orders that are modifiable or which terminate upon remarriage. Other orders are non-modifiable and may continue even if your ex- spouse remarries.

What if my Ex Stops Paying Alimony?2020-07-19T03:09:48-05:00

You may seek enforcement of the court order by filing a Motion for Contempt. Your former spouse will have to prove that he/she is not willfully disobeying the court order. Your ex could have recently become unemployed, or ill and he/she can no longer afford the payments and will make those arguments in his/her defense. If you win the motion, the court can impose a wide range of penalties on your ex, such as a money judgment, judgment lien, writ of execution, a writ of garnishment or even jail time. If your ex has a habit of being delinquent, when paying you directly, you can seek an income deduction order so that the employer takes the money directly out of his/her paycheck.

Can Men Receive Alimony?2020-07-19T03:03:04-05:00

Yes, either spouse may receive spousal maintenance.

What If I Didn’t Request Alimony During the Divorce and I Later Decide that I Need It?2020-07-19T02:58:39-05:00

You cannot reopen the case because you forgot or didn’t want to ask for alimony at the time of the divorce. In Florida, a marital settlement agreement can be set aside because of fraud, duress, coercion or unconscionability. These defenses are not easy and you must have clear and convincing evidence to prove the case. If fraud is asserted, the motion must be filed not more than 1 year after the judgment was entered, except in cases where the financial affidavit was fraudulent, there is no time limit.

Do I Have to Pay Taxes on Alimony Payments?2020-07-19T02:55:41-05:00

Final Judgments of Dissolution of Marriage entered into on or after January 1, 2019 are subject to a new federal tax law. In these cases, the receiving spouse does not pay taxes on alimony payments but the payor spouse does. Under the old tax law the recipient spouse pays the income taxes and the payor spouse may claim the payments as a tax deduction. This law still applies to orders entered on or before December 31, 2018.

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