When your Florida marriage comes to an end, your financial future may end up looking quite a bit different. If your marriage ends and you question whether you will have enough money to maintain your lifestyle, you may choose to pursue alimony in your split. But how does alimony work in Florida?
Per Florida alimony law, if you receive an alimony award in your divorce, you may get one of four types of alimony in Florida. These alimony types include bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, durational, or permanent alimony. Whether you receive alimony or maintenance at all in your split depends on certain variables.
Factors for Determining Alimony in Florida
Before performing Florida alimony calculations, the judge must first determine that the person needs alimony. Some of the things the state considers when deciding whether to award alimony are as follows.
Marriage Longevity
While the duration of your marriage alone may not be enough to secure your alimony, if your marriage was a lengthy one, your chances may improve. In longer marriages, the chances of you sacrificing your own career or education for that of your partner are also higher, and this is often a determining factor in alimony cases.
Standard of Living Set by the Marriage
Courts also typically try to devise arrangements that allow you to maintain a similar standard of living after a divorce to the one you enjoyed during your marriage.
Education Levels and Earning Capacities
Your education level and marketable skills help determine how likely you are to find gainful employment, so these are key considerations in alimony cases. How long it might take you to adopt the skills needed to find gainful employment, if necessary, is also a consideration.
Speak With an Experienced Tampa Alimony Lawyer
These are some of the many variables that help decide if you get alimony or spousal maintenance in your split. For more information on what qualifies or disqualifies you from alimony in Florida, speak with a Tampa alimony lawyer.