Orlando Alimony Attorney

Recently, the Florida state legislature has enacted new alimony laws. If you are seeking a divorce, it is extremely important that you have a full understanding of these changes and how they affect your alimony or spousal support situation.

At the office of Timothy W. Terry, Attorney at Law, we can thoroughly explain alimony laws in Florida and how they specifically pertain to your divorce. We are available to represent individuals in Orlando and throughout central Florida. Our attorney, Timothy W. Terry, has more than 25 years of experience in divorce and family law matters. We have developed a strong record of success and take pride in the fact that a large number of our clients are referred to us by people we have helped in the past.

An initial consultation is available to you at no charge.

E-mail or call us at 407-965-2256 for more information about what an experienced Orlando alimony lawyer can do to help address your alimony case.

Types of Alimony and Length of Marriage

The new Florida alimony legislation now lays out the different types of alimony available, based on the court's determination of a party's need. This can be based on the length of a marriage, now specifically defined by Florida statute. There is a rebuttable presumption, depending on how many years you have been married, that determines whether you had a "short," "moderate" or "long" marriage:

• Short-term: less than 7 years
• Moderate-term: more than 7 years but less than 17 years
• Long-term: 17 years or more

A marriage has not ended until the date of the filing for dissolution. Therefore, if you have not yet filed for divorce, you are still considered married and the length of your marriage is ongoing.

Permanent Alimony

Permanent alimony lasts until the receiving spouse remarries or either party dies. Adultery can be a factor in deciding whether a spouse is entitled to alimony. Permanent alimony is generally limited to those marriages that were long-term, meaning 17 years or more in length.

Durational and Temporary Alimony

Most alimony awarded is not permanent and is temporary in nature. These types are listed by statute and are as follows:

• Rehabilitative alimony: limited to a specific time period, is modifiable and allows the receiving spouse to continue education or training to become financially stable.
• Bridge-the-gap alimony: no longer than two years and is not modifiable and gives receiving spouse ability to become financially independent.
• Durational alimony: length cannot exceed length of marriage (with exceptions), is modifiable and is for those who do not qualify for permanent alimony but need time to become financially stable.

Contact Our Florida Permanent Alimony Lawyer

To talk to us in more detail about your alimony or spousal support case, e-mail or call us at 407-965-2256 to schedule a free initial consultation.