Our Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediators at Mediation of Coral Springs, Inc. recognize that while mediating divorce cases usually involve two emotional spouses, their emotions may run much higher when the case involves a claim for alimony.
Whether alimony is awarded, and how much, is determined by the factors contained in Florida Statute §61.08. These factors include: the standard of living established during the marriage, the duration of the marriage, the age and the physical and emotional condition of each party, educational levels, vocational skills, and employability of the parties and, when applicable, the time necessary for either party to acquire sufficient education or training to enable such party to find appropriate employment, the contribution of each party to the marriage, including, services rendered in homemaking, child care, education, and career building of the other party.
However, §61.08 premises alimony on “whether to award alimony or maintenance, the court shall first make a specific factual determination as to whether either party has an actual need for alimony or maintenance and whether either party has the ability to pay alimony or maintenance.”
In determining whether to award alimony or maintenance, the court must next make a specific factual determination as to whether either party has an actual need for alimony or maintenance and whether either party has the ability to pay alimony or maintenance
In Florida, we have a few different types of alimony which are permanent, temporary, durational and rehabilitative. They are as follows:
Permanent alimony requires that the paying spouse is responsible for some portion of the other spouse’s financial needs for the rest of either of their lives. This type of alimony is generally only appropriate in long term marriages – meaning those that have lasted at least seventeen years.
Temporary alimony, which is also known as “bridge-the-gap” alimony which is designed to provide the spouse with financial support in order to transition themselves into life as a single person. This type of alimony can only last up to two years and it is non-modifiable – unless a mediation agreement states otherwise.
Rehabilitative alimony is very similar to temporary alimony and it is meant to be temporary only until the receiving spouse gets back on their feet, but it requires the spouse receiving alimony to train for a job or finish a college degree or start a business or set up some other way to support themselves.
Durational alimony is a very recent type of alimony in Florida, and it ss intended for what are called short or medium-term marriages. Durational alimony payments are not allowed to last longer than the length of the marriage and it can only be modified if the financial circumstances of either party change considerably.
The above four types of alimony can be very complicated to understand and at Mediation of Coral Springs, Inc. we are extremely experienced at mediating all types of alimony cases. If you desire to mediate your Florida Dissolution of Marriage case, please consider our Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediators at Mediation of Coral Springs, Inc.