Divorce is an emotional experience, but it is also a legal process with financial implications. When two Floridians decide to end their marriage, they must unweave the delicate web of their lives that has grown over the years of their marriage. They often benefit from securing the support of committed legal counsel to aid them in the settlement and adjudication of their family law needs.
One area of family law that often comes up during divorce is alimony. Alimony is also called spousal support and it represents the money that a person may receive or be required to pay to their ex after their divorce ends. This post does not offer any legal advice but provides some important information on alimony in Florida.
Fact 1: Alimony is not just for wives.
It is a common misconception that alimony is only paid from husbands to wives. The higher-earning partner to a marriage may be asked to pay alimony, regardless of whether they are a man or a woman.
Fact 2: Alimony does not have to be made in monthly payments.
While many alimony orders are structured as monthly periodic payments, others are structured as lump-sum payments. A lump-sum payment is a single payment from one party to the other that represents the whole amount of support owed between them.
Fact 3: Not all divorces involve alimony.
When two parties to a divorce are both financially independent, they may not require an alimony order. Alimony is necessary when one party to divorce cannot support themselves once they are single.
Fact 4: Alimony can be awarded or agreed to by the parties.
In some divorces, the parties may be able to structure an alimony agreement that represents their ongoing financial relationship once their marriage is over. For those who cannot work together to achieve such an agreement, a divorce court may award alimony to one of the parties.
Fact 5: Alimony awards can have different end points.
Some alimony awards last for the entirety of the parties’ lives. Others end as soon as the recipient party is able to re-enter the workforce and become self-sufficient. The term of an alimony award or agreement will be included in the terms of the order.
There is more that individuals should know about alimony. No reader should rely on this post as comprehensive legal information. Their family law attorneys can help them learn and protect their rights as they pursue their own divorces.