Why families come to Connect Attorneys
Connect Attorneys is a Miami law firm serving clients throughout South Florida. Our family law attorneys focus on giving clients clear information and steady guidance, explaining how Florida law may apply and what to expect at each stage. Every client works directly with an attorney, and we serve South Florida families in English and Spanish.
Types of Alimony in Florida
Florida courts may award several forms of alimony depending on the situation: temporary alimony during the case, bridge-the-gap alimony to help with the transition to single life, rehabilitative alimony to support a plan to become self-supporting, and durational alimony for a set period. Which type applies, if any, depends on the facts of the marriage.
Two of these forms carry hard statutory limits: bridge-the-gap alimony may not exceed 2 years, and rehabilitative alimony may not exceed 5 years. Rehabilitative alimony also requires an actual plan, such as a course of training or education, not just a general intention to become self-supporting.
(Sources: Fla. Stat. § 61.08; Fla. Stat. § 61.08.)
The 2023 Alimony Reform
Florida's alimony law was significantly revised in 2023. For cases finalized on or after July 1, 2023, courts can no longer award permanent (lifetime) alimony. The length of durational alimony is now limited based on how long the marriage lasted, and the amount is subject to statutory limits. Awards that were already in place before the change generally remain in effect.
(Sources: Fla. Stat. § 61.08(8); 2023 Senate Bill 1416.)
How Long Durational Alimony Can Last
For durational alimony, the length of the marriage sets the ceiling. Florida groups marriages into three categories: short-term (under 10 years), moderate-term (10 to 20 years), and long-term (20 years or more). Durational alimony generally may not exceed 50 percent of the length of a short-term marriage, 60 percent of a moderate-term marriage, or 75 percent of a long-term marriage, and it is not available at all after a marriage that lasted less than 3 years.
The amount has its own limit: generally the lesser of the recipient's reasonable need or 35 percent of the difference between the spouses' net incomes. Courts can depart from some of these limits in exceptional circumstances, which is exactly the kind of question worth walking through with an attorney.
(Sources: Fla. Stat. § 61.08(8); Fla. Stat. § 61.08.)
Seeking or Responding to Alimony
Alimony starts with two questions: does one spouse have an actual need for support, and does the other have the ability to pay it. Only if both answers are yes does the court weigh the factors that shape the type, amount, and length of an award, such as the duration of the marriage, each spouse's income and earning ability, the standard of living during the marriage, and each spouse's contributions to it, financial and otherwise. We help clients on both sides of an alimony question understand how these factors may apply and present their position to the court.
Alimony rarely travels alone. It is usually decided alongside property division, because what each spouse keeps affects what each spouse needs, and both are part of the larger divorce case.
(Source: Fla. Stat. § 61.08.)
Changing or Ending Alimony After the Divorce
Some alimony awards can be modified or ended when circumstances change substantially, and events like the remarriage of the spouse receiving support can affect an award. Whether a particular award can change depends on its type and on what the judgment says, so the terms of the original order matter. Our modifications page covers how these requests work.
Alimony Cases in Miami-Dade
Alimony is decided on financial evidence, and in Miami-Dade both spouses exchange financial affidavits early in the case. Organizing income records, tax returns, and a realistic monthly budget before filing makes every later step faster. Family cases here are generally heard in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit; our overview of family law in Miami and our guide to the Miami-Dade family courthouse explain the setting. We advise clients from our Brickell Avenue office in English and Spanish.
This is general information about Florida law, not legal advice. How these rules apply depends on the details of your situation. Talking with an attorney is the clearest way to understand what they mean for you.