Sarasota, Manatee and Pinellas County Alimony Lawyer

Often when a long-term marriage ends in divorce, Florida Family Law courts may grant alimony to either party if there is an economic need. In the alternative, the parties can also agree to an unequal division of marital assets or property instead of seeking alimony. Alimony is designed to facilitate or continue the standard of living established during the marriage. Alimony is intended to aid the lower earning spouse in making the transition from married life to life as a single person. Alimony provides income to them after the marriage is dissolved.

I am Brandon M. Daniels, a divorce attorney in Sarasota, FL with experience in guiding people through the financial issues of divorce, including alimony and child support and marital property division.

The individual financial situation of each party will strictly determine the type and amount of Alimony received. The factors used to determine Alimony are fact sensitive. The following are a few of the many factors that go into alimony award determinations: the number of years of marriage, the history of the marriage, the age of the parties, education of the parties, the employment history and skills of the economically weaker spouse.

Alimony is designed to facilitate or continue the standard of living established during the marriage. Alimony is intended to aid the lower earning spouse in making the transition from married life to life as a single person. Alimony provides income to them after the marriage is dissolved.

Types of Alimony / Spousal Support

There are three primary forms of Alimony in Florida:

• Temporary Alimony: This form of alimony is most often awarded while the divorce is in process. It can include the use and possession of the marital home, temporary payments of the mortgage, household bills and can also include a court order that one party pay the other side's attorney's fees and costs.
• Rehabilitative Alimony or Bridge-The-Gap Alimony: This is alimony provided while a spouse obtains the education or training necessary to become self-sufficient.
• Permanent Alimony: Fixed long term payments from one spouse to the other, ongoing monthly payments until the death or remarriage of recipient. Recent changes in the law allow modifications in cases of "cohabitation in a financially supportive relationship," even without remarriage.
• Lump-Sum Alimony: is awarded by a Court when ongoing monthly payments aren't a solution.

Alimony, also known as spousal support, may be granted as periodic payments (over time) or in one lump-sum payment. Alimony is taxable income for the recipient and tax-deductible for the payer. Our office will assist you in locating a professional tax consultant to assist you with these decisions.

Florida allows for the modification of alimony if one party can show a significant change in your financial circumstances. Contact our office today to for an appointment discuss the factors associated with modification of an existing order.

Factors in awarding alimony

Florida courts consider a array of aspects when determining if an award of alimony is warranted. These factors are also used in the determining the amount of the award as well.

• Then length of the marriage
• The standard of living during the marriage
• The age and the health of each party
• The financial resources available to each party
• The contributions each party made to the marriage
• Behavioral issues such as adultery

The courts have the ability to order the alimony paying spouse to purchase a life insurance policy or a bond so that future alimony payments are secured. We take a creative approach to find ways to resolve issues surrounding Alimony and work hard to obtain you the best settlement possible.