In many cases, during a marriage, one spouse will serve as the couple’s primary breadwinner. This may happen because the other spouse will serve as a stay-at-home parent or because the other spouse has a low-paying job.
Either way, once the marriage ends, it can take the spouse who wasn’t the breadwinner time to find a job that can provide them with a living wage. Until they do, they will need financial support to make ends meet, which usually comes in the form of alimony/spousal support.
In Florida, there are five types of alimony/spousal support. Each type has its own rules and purposes. The five types of alimony/spousal support in Florida are:
- Rehabilitative Alimony
- Lump Sum Alimony
- Bridge-the-Gap Alimony
- Durational Alimony
- Permanent Periodic Alimony
This is the beginning of a blog series where we will explore each type of spousal support in Florida. This month we will be discussing permanent periodic alimony.
How Does Permanent Periodic Alimony Work in Florida?
Permanent periodic alimony is a version of spousal support that requires the paying spouse to provide for the receiving spouse until one of them passes away or the receiving spouse remarries. The purpose of permanent periodic alimony is to provide financial support for former spouses who are incapable of supporting themselves because they lack the ability or resources to do so. Permanent periodic alimony is meant to provide financial support for necessities, such as food and shelter.
Several factors are considered before a permanent periodic alimony claim is granted or denied, including:
- Length of marriage
- Income and liabilities of each spouse
- Work experience
- Health and age of children
- Child custody arrangement
- Emotional and physical health of the spouses
- Potential income of the payer
- Potential disparity of spouses’ incomes post-divorce
- Standard of living established during the marriage
- Assets of spouses
An experienced divorce attorney can help you secure permanent periodic alimony or provide you with defense strategies against a permanent alimony claim.
Need Help with Alimony in Florida? Speak with Our Experienced Divorce Lawyers Today
One of the most important issues that must be addressed during the divorce process is whether one spouse will provide the other with alimony, and if so, how much spousal support will be awarded. At Orshan, Spann & Fernandez-Mesa, our experienced family law attorneys have been successfully assisting clients with issues involving spousal support for years. We can help you secure the alimony agreement that best fits your situation, so that you have a solid foundation on which to rebuild your life and step into a brighter future.
To discuss your situation with our experienced divorce attorneys, give us a call at (305) 853-9161 or reach out to us online today to set up a confidential, no-obligation consultation.