Are you going through a divorce in Florida and wondering about alimony? At Tampa Divorce Attorney, we know that understanding alimony can be confusing. Did you know there are four different types, each serving a unique purpose? Let us guide you through these important details and help you understand what to expect.
On the authority of Florida State Law, the four types of alimony are bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, durational, and permanent. Bridge-the-gap helps a spouse transition to being single, rehabilitative supports a spouse until they can become self-sufficient, durational is for a set period, and permanent is for life.
Types of Alimony in Florida
In Florida, alimony can take various forms, such as temporary, bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, durational, and permanent alimony.
If you think about it, temporary alimony is money given to support a spouse during a divorce until a final decision is made. Bridge-the-gap alimony helps a spouse with money for a short time after the divorce to adjust to being single. Rehabilitative alimony helps a spouse get education or training to become financially independent. Durational alimony is money given for a set time, usually when permanent support isn’t needed.
Broadly speaking, permanent alimony is given in long-term marriages where one spouse needs money, and the other can pay. When deciding on alimony, the court looks at how long the marriage lasted, the lifestyle during the marriage, and the finances of each spouse. It’s essential for both spouses to get legal advice to understand their rights and responsibilities about alimony in Florida.
Durational Alimony Explained
Durational alimony provides temporary financial support to a spouse after divorce, often based on the length of the marriage.
In general, durational alimony is meant to give financial help to a spouse after a divorce to help them adjust to their new financial situation. Unlike permanent alimony, which lasts indefinitely, durational alimony is given for a set period decided by the court. This type of support is usually given when one spouse relies on the other for money and needs temporary assistance to become financially independent.
If you think about it, the duration of these payments is determined by several factors, like how long the marriage lasted, each spouse’s earning ability, and their lifestyle during the marriage. Durational alimony is predictable because the support period is fixed, unlike other types that can change if circumstances change. In short, durational alimony offers temporary financial support to help a spouse transition to life after divorce and work toward financial independence.
Understanding Bridge-the-Gap Alimony
As we summed up before, bridge-the-gap alimony is unique because it is designed to assist a spouse in transitioning from married life to financial independence, often covering short-term needs like post-divorce relocation or job training.
Typically, this type of alimony is usually short-term and covers specific costs like moving or job training. It’s meant to help the spouse adjust from being married to supporting themselves on their own. Unlike other alimony, bridge-the-gap alimony cannot be changed or extended once it’s given.
To put it briefly, the court decides how much and how long this alimony will last based on each spouse’s situation. It’s typically given when one spouse needs financial help to get back on their feet after the divorce. Remember, bridge-the-gap alimony is not for long-term support but to help the spouse transition to financial independence.
Rehabilitative Alimony Details
Combining earlier ideas, rehabilitative alimony aids divorced spouses by funding their efforts to become self-sufficient through education or job training.
Typically, this type of alimony is meant to help the spouse receiving it become financially independent. The length of time they receive payments is usually decided by the court based on what they need and how long it will take for them to get the skills or education they need to support themselves.
Fundamentally, rehabilitative alimony is often given in situations where one spouse has given up their career or education to support their partner or take care of children. The goal is to help the receiving spouse move into a new stage of their life and be financially stable. The amount and how long it lasts can change depending on each case, and it can be adjusted if there are big changes in either spouse’s financial situation.
What Is Permanent Alimony?
Going back to earlier points, permanent alimony is ongoing financial support that can last until the recipient remarries or one of the parties passes away.
Essentially putpermanent alimony is usually given when one spouse earns much more or has more assets than the other, or if one spouse can’t support themselves because of their age, health, or lack of job skills.
The goal of permanent alimony is to help the lower-earning spouse keep the same lifestyle they had during the marriage. Unlike temporary alimony, permanent alimony typically lasts indefinitely, until either spouse dies, or the recipient spouse remarries or starts a new long-term relationship.
If you think about it, the amount of permanent alimony is decided based on several things, like how long the marriage lasted, the financial needs of the spouse receiving alimony, how much the paying spouse can afford, and any agreements made during the divorce. Courts might also look at the ages and health of both spouses, their earning potential, and any help the recipient spouse gave to advance the paying spouse’s career or education.
Permanent alimony can be a hot topic in divorce cases. The paying spouse might feel it’s a heavy financial burden, while the receiving spouse might think they deserve ongoing support. It’s very important for both spouses to get legal advice to understand their rights and responsibilities when it comes to permanent alimony.
Summing it All Up
Adding to what was earlier stated in Florida, there are four types of alimony that may be awarded in divorce cases: bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, durational, and permanent.
What Tampa Divorce Attorney is recommending to secure is, each type serves a different purpose and is determined by factors such as the length of the marriage, the financial needs of each spouse, and the ability to pay. Understanding these options is very important for individuals navigating the various problems that may occur of divorce in Florida.
