Title: Changes in the Law on Alimony in Florida Effective July 1, 2023
Introduction:
Alimony, also known as spousal support, is a critical aspect of divorce proceedings. It is designed to provide financial support to the lower-earning spouse after a marriage is dissolved. Florida recently enacted new legislation that will bring significant changes to the alimony laws as of July 1, 2023. In this blog post, we will outline the key alterations and their implications.
1. Elimination of Permanent Alimony:
Under the new law, permanent alimony will no longer be awarded in Florida divorces. Previously, permanent alimony involved continued support until the recipient spouse remarries, dies, or a substantial change in circumstances occurs. However, effective July 1, 2023, permanent alimony will be replaced by various forms of limited duration alimony.
2. Different Types of Limited Duration Alimony:
The updated law introduces four types of limited duration alimony that courts can consider when awarding spousal support. These include:
a. Bridge-the-gap alimony: Intended to help a spouse transition from married to single life, bridge-the-gap alimony provides support for a short period, typically not exceeding two years.
b. Rehabilitative alimony: Designed to enable a spouse to acquire education, skills, or training to become self-supporting, rehabilitative alimony can be awarded for a specified and reasonable period.
c. Durational alimony: This form of alimony is granted for a speci
