| Alimony (also known as spousal support) is a tool that | | | | If one spouse needs some help getting on his or her |
| the court can use to make sure each spouse is | | | | feet, the court may award bridge-the-gap alimony. This |
| treated fairly upon divorce. Florida family law | | | | alimony is awarded to assist the person in the |
| recognizes different types of alimony: including | | | | transition from married life to single life and is generally |
| permanent periodic, lump sum, rehabilitative, and | | | | awarded for two years. For example, if the spouse is |
| bridge-the-gap. The court can also award temporary | | | | having a hard time finding a job or is no longer living in |
| alimony during the duration of adivorce case. A person | | | | themarital home, a court may award bridge-the-gap |
| may receive more than one type of alimony, | | | | alimony to allow that spouse to find a job or |
| depending on the individual facts and circumstances of | | | | appropriate housing. |
| the marriage. | | | | A court will award permanent periodic alimony, usually |
| Temporary alimony may be granted to maintain the | | | | on a monthly basis, if one spouse needs to be |
| status quo during the pendency of a divorce case. For | | | | supported indefinitely. Generally, the award of |
| example, if one spouse functioned as a traditional | | | | permanent periodic alimony in Florida turns on the |
| homemaker and did not earn income outside the home | | | | duration of the marriage, although other factors are |
| and the other spouse paid the marital bills from income | | | | also applicable. Permanent periodic alimony usually lasts |
| earned outside the home, the working spouse can be | | | | until the death of either spouse or if the spouse |
| required to continue to pay the marital bills until the final | | | | receiving the payments remarries. Florida law recently |
| disposition of the divorce. | | | | changed to allow a reduction/cessation in permanent |
| When considering an award of alimony, a Florida court | | | | periodic alimony in the event the recipient spouse is |
| can examine any factor, including the adultery of either | | | | cohabiting with someone who financially supports them. |
| spouse, the length of the marriage, and the | | | | A spouse might request rehabilitative alimony if that |
| employment prospects of the spouse who would | | | | person requires the time to acquire new skills or |
| receive the alimony. Alimony is not the same as child | | | | resume an educational/career track that was |
| support and is evaluated as an entirely separate | | | | interrupted during the marriage. Rehabilitative alimony is |
| matter. In Florida, the alimony issue must be decided | | | | specifically designed to further the receiver |
| before the court establishes child support. | | | | |