Permanent Periodic Alimony Factors

The most common form of alimony in a divorce is permanent periodic alimony.

In a Florida divorce, the court must consider the following alimony factors:

1. The standard of living established during the marriage.
2. The duration of the marriage.
3. The age and the physical and emotional condition of each party.
4. The financial resources of each party, the non-marital and the marital assets and liabilities distributed to each.
5. When applicable, the time necessary for either party to acquire sufficient education or training to enable such party to find appropriate employment.
6. The contribution of each party to the marriage, including, but not limited to, services rendered in homemaking, child care, education, and career building of the other party.
7. All sources of income available to either party.
8. Any other factor necessary to do equity and justice between the parties.

While in the distant past, a marriage of at least twenty years was required to qualify for permanent periodic alimony, more recently a marriage of thirteen years will qualify in most cases.

The main factor considered after you establish that you have had a long term marriage is that of the difference in your abilities to earn an income.  Assuming a long term marriage, the court will require a greater earning spouse to provide monthly support to the lesser earning spouse so that one spouse doesn't go from wealth to poverty while the other remains wealthy.

We will talk more about these factors in future blogs.

The bottom line from this Florida Alimony Attorney is that there are many details to an alimony consideration.  Consult with us to get an evaluation of your alimony prospects.

© Copyright 2009 by Stann Givens