Changes In Florida Alimony Law Could Impact Tampa Divorce Cases

One of the biggest hurdles when getting a divorce is maintaining your financial security in the aftermath. If your spouse was the primary breadwinner or made considerably more than you, this could present some challenges. Alimony awarded during Hillsborough County divorce proceedings can help you make the financial adjustment. Our Tampa divorce lawyer explains how a new Florida law could impact your rights to these payments.

Permanent Alimony No Longer An Option In Hillsborough County Divorce Proceedings

When filing for a divorce through the Hillsborough County Family Court, there are serious issues concerning money that must be resolved before a final divorce order is issued. One of these regards your rights to alimony payments.

In addition to getting your fair share of marital property and assets, an award for alimony can help you make the financial adjustment to single life. Previously, alimony would be awarded on either a temporary or permanent basis. However, after months of heated debates, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently signed SB 1416 into law. This eliminates permanent alimony in Florida.

Permanent alimony payments were usually ordered in cases of long term marriages and went on indefinitely, up until death or when the receiving spouse got remarried. There are still other types of alimony available in a Florida divorce, though they are temporary. They include:

• Bridge the gap alimony, which can help in adjusting to a divorce;
• Rehabilitative alimony, which allows you to gain the skills or experience needed to reenter the workforce;
• Durational alimony, awarded for a specific period of time, such as when one of the spouses stays home to raise children from the marriage.

Changes In How Alimony In Tampa Is Awarded

Previously, alimony payments helped the receiving spouse maintain the same standard of living as they did during the marriage. Now, the amount of alimony is designed to cover ‘reasonable needs’, which could still leave you facing major lifestyle adjustments. It also sets new time limits on when you are entitled to alimony and the length of time you can receive payments:

• You must have been married at least five years for rehabilitative alimony to be an option;
• You must have been married at least three years to receive durational alimony payments;
• If awarded durational alimony, payments last for a percentage of the total number of years you were married.

For marriages under ten years, durational alimony may be ordered for up to 50 percent of the time you were together. For example, if you were married eight years, you may be entitled to alimony for four. In marriages up to 20 years, the amount increases to 60 percent. After 20 plus years together, it increases to 75 percent.

Speak With Our Tampa Divorce Lawyer

Alimony often plays a major role in helping you recover financially from a divorce. To find out how changes in state law could impact your rights, reach out to Bubley & Bubley, P.A. To request a consultation, contact our Tampa divorce lawyer today.

Sources:

hillsclerk.com/court-services/family-law

flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/1416/?Tab=BillHistory