The end of a marriage can be a trying time, both emotionally and financially. For many people, fundamental aspects of their daily life will change dramatically, including where they live, how often they see their children, their day-to-day routine, and even whether or not they have a job. In some cases, one of the parties to a marriage has forgone pursuing a career to support his or her spouse or may have left the workforce early to raise a family or manage the marital home. Your Jacksonville family attorney can assist you in obtaining alimony or defending against alimony claims.
Florida Alimony
Of course, the parties to a marriage both have financial needs, both during the marriage and afterward, should it end. The law that governs the way marriages end recognizes this fact and provides for an equitable distribution of the marital assets upon dissolution. Additionally, Florida Courts are authorized by law to award additional financial support based on one party’s need and the other party’s ability to pay. This type of arrangement is referred to as “alimony” by Florida law but can also be called “spousal support” or “maintenance.” There are several types of alimony that may be awarded, including bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, permanent, durational, or lump-sum alimony. What kind of alimony is appropriate to request can sometimes be difficult to decide on your own. Your Jacksonville family attorney will assist you in making that determination after examining all the facts related to your marriage.