There are five different types of alimony that may be awarded in Florida. Alimony is commonly referred to as spousal support. A number of factors are used to determine the amount and length of alimony in Florida. Many individuals going through the divorce process may wonder what these factors are. In general, alimony payments are payments made by one former spouse to the other.
One type of alimony that may be available in Florida is rehabilitative alimony. Rehabilitative alimony is a type of alimony that is awarded for a limited time to allow the recipient spouse to develop or redevelop skills that will allow them to become financially independent. Rehabilitative alimony may be paid monthly or semi-monthly. Another type of alimony that may be available in Florida is bridge-the-gap alimony. Bridge-the-gap alimony helps the recipient spouse transition from being married to being single again and is intended to help with the purchase of a car or a place to live in, for example. Bridge-the-gap alimony is typically paid as a lump sum or over a short period of time.
A third type of alimony that may be available in Florida is permanent alimony. Permanent alimony can be awarded based on certain circumstances and may be paid monthly or semi-monthly until the recipient spouse remarries or dies. Durational alimony, on the other hand, may be awarded for only a certain period of limited time. Durational alimony may be paid monthly or semi-monthly. The final type of alimony that may be awarded in Florida is lump-sum alimony which may be paid, as the description indicates, as a lump sum of either money or property.
There is a lot to know about alimony when approaching the divorce process. Alimony is an important and sometimes lasting concern, so it is important that couples approach this issue with awareness and understanding when considering a divorce.
Source: State Laws FindLaw, “Florida Spousal Support or Alimony Laws,” Accessed March 28, 2016