What Types of Alimony can you Pursue in Sarasota, Florida?
While almost all spouses in Sarasota, Florida wish for a lifetime together as a couple, circumstances may arise where divorce is necessary. In such situations, you might find yourself paying for alimony, a payment from one spouse to the other spouse during and after divorce. Suppose you are about to start your divorce proceedings or are in the middle of it in Sarasota. In that case, it’s vital that you get a reputable divorce attorney in the Sarasota area such as Attorney Matthew Martell to help you fairly and reasonably iron out these types of alimony matters.
Keep in mind that alimony can be quite oppressive for the paying spouse. Guess you are now asking – how much is alimony in Sarasota, Florida? The calculation of alimony in Florida is based partially on the need of one spouse and the ability of the other spouse to pay. According to the American Association of Matrimonial Lawyers, it should be roughly 33% of the annual net income of the payer. We at the Law Offices of Matthew Z. Martell, have a very good record of handling alimony issues professionally, competently, and successfully during divorce.
Here are the various types of alimony in Florida:
Permanent Periodic Alimony
If one spouse is unable to meet their financial needs after the marriage is dissolved, and she was in a long-term marriage, then she could get awarded permanent periodic alimony. Some of the factors considered when determining permanent periodic alimony are;
- The financial resources of each spouse
- The emotional condition and age of each spouse
- The standard of living of the spouse during the marriage
As the name suggests, permanent periodic alimony normally lasts until the death of the payor spouse, the death of the payee spouse, or the remarriage of the payee spouse.
Rehabilitative Alimony
This alimony is meant to aid a divorced spouse in acquiring the education or training they need for employment. The spouse seeking rehabilitative alimony must submit a viable plan indicating how much money and time they require to accomplish their goals. For instance, if a spouse wanted to pursue a nursing course that would take four years to complete and costs $70,000, this is basically what the alimony will cover. Rehabilitative alimony aims to help the receiving spouse learn how to support themselves financially without help from the other spouse.
Bridge-the-Gap Alimony
According to Florida state legislation, bridge-the-gap alimony is meant to aid spouses with the financial support they need for a limited time. For instance, a spouse could be awarded this type of alimony to cover their living expenses as they wait in an apartment for the home they shared with their partner to be sold. You should know that under state law, once the amount of bridge-the-gap alimony has been determined, it can’t be modified. Moreover, the receiving spouse can’t keep receiving the award amount for more than two years. Let’s say a spouse receives $2500 per month; they will only be entitled to the payments for 24 months. Bridge-the-Gap Alimony is normally only awarded is mid-length marriages or, on limited occasions, in short-term marriages.
Durational Alimony
This type of alimony is awarded in instances where other forms of alimony are incapable of meeting the spouse’s needs. However, Florida state law dictates that durational alimony is intended to offer a separated or divorced spouse economic support for a determined period immediately after a moderate term marriage. This alimony can also be awarded to a spouse who has been in a long-term marriage but does not want permanent periodic alimony.
How Sarasota Divorce Attorney Matthew Z. Martell Can Help
It’s normal to worry about your financial security when facing divorce. Our top-notch Sarasota divorce lawyer, Matt Martell, Esq. will help you determine what types of alimony are appropriate to consider and can be expected in your divorce case. Contact us today for legal insights on how to handle alimony in your divorce correctly.