Alimony in Jacksonville Divorce

When is alimony awarded?

Many forms of alimony exist and the court will be interested in looking at not only the needs of the spouse requesting alimony, but also the ability of the other spouse to pay that amount. The alimony award could be in the form of temporary spousal support (“rehabilitative”) or it could be deemed as permanent alimony.

It can also apply to either husband or wife; it is not gender-specific. Temporary support could later be determined to be the amount of the permanent alimony award, so it is vital to have an experienced and savvy Jacksonville divorce lawyer work with you to help ensure the payments are fair and equitable.

An alimony award is additional to any child support that may also be awarded; however, the court will also consider the child support amount when determining the alimony payment. Jacksonville alimony lawyers at Ellerin Hutchinson have years of experience in helping their clients work out support payments that protect their rights and their future.

Determining Factors for Spousal Support

There are many factors established under Florida law and considered by the court when awarding spousal support. Some of those are:

• The standard of living created during the marriage.
• How long the spouses have been married.
• The financial resources and income sources of each party. The distribution of assets and liabilities (both marital and non-marital) will be considered here as well.
• The age of each spouse, as well as the physical and emotional condition.
• In some cases the educational level of the spouses is also considered, as well as the time required for either spouse to attain an educational or training level sufficient to find gainful employment.

Additionally, the court may require that support payments be a lump sum, periodic payments, or both. The court may also take into consideration any instances of adultery, spousal abuse, or situations related to this when deciding for or against an alimony settlement.