Orlando Alimony Attorney

Alimony Attorney, Orlando

After the court has equitably distributed the marital assets, it will consider the propriety of awarding alimony to either of the parties, which alimony may be rehabilitative or permanent in nature. The court may also order periodic payments or payments in lump sum or a combination of the two.

On July 1, 2010, the Florida Statute 61.08 pertaining to alimony changed dramatically.  For the first time, we now have the forms of alimony clearly defined by the legislature.  The statute creates a rebuttable presumption that a short term marriage is less than 7 years, a moderate term marriage is greater than 7 years but less than 17 years, and a long term marriage is a marriage of 17 years or longer.  The forms of alimony defined in the statute are bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, durational, or permanent.  There may be a combination of these forms in a final solution.  The court is required to make specific findings of fact in determining a person’s need for alimony.  The changes in the revised statute 61.08 apply to any case that is filed and pending with respect to alimony, meaning it is retroactively applied to a case filed and pending on July 1, 2010.