Jacksonville Divorce Attorney Blog
From the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar:
As the start of the 2013 legislative session approaches, one of the items for debate among advocates will be Florida’s alimony statutes. Florida currently enjoys some of the most progressive alimony laws in the nation and the Family Law Section of The Florida Bar has worked closely with members of the legislature to pass good public policy that is fair and equitable to all parties. As a result of the efforts of the Section through changes made to the alimony statutes in 2010 and 2011, fewer cases are litigated and more are settled.
“The Family Law Section believes any new legislation should set a reasonable approach toward improvements,” said Carin M. Porras, chair of the Family Law Section of The Florida Bar. “In the upcoming legislative session, we will be working to educate policy makers and the general public to clarify misconceptions about Florida’s alimony statutes; misconceptions such as permanent alimony payors are prohibited from retiring or the income of a second husband or wife creates a basis for an upward modification of alimony.”
The Family Law Section is committed to ongoing dialogue regarding Florida’s alimony statutes with policy makers and advocacy groups alike. Section members have evaluated draft proposals and are interested in supporting fair policy that will continue to decrease litigation, lessen the burden on an already overwhelmed court system and pass these cost savings onto taxpayers.
The members of Family Law Section are family attorneys who represent Floridians on both sides of the statute — people seeking alimony support as well as those who are obligated to pay alimony — as opposed to only representing the opinions of alimony payors. The Section will work together with Florida’s legislators to review and propose improvements to the current statutes that protect the rights of the alimony payor and the alimony recipient.