Category Archives: Alimony
Do Florida’s 2023 Alimony Changes Apply Retroactively?
On July 1, 2023, a new alimony law took effect in Florida. Among other things, the 2023 law abolished awards of permanent alimony and limited durational alimony in short-term marriages to 50 percent of the length of the marriage. In other words, if a marriage lasted 4 years, a Florida judge can now award… Read More »
Are You “Voluntarily Underemployed” If You Trade Self-Employment for a Lower-Paying Regular Job?
In Florida high net worth divorce cases, it is quite common for one party to accuse the other of intentionally earning less money in order to reduce potential alimony or child support obligations. Of course, mere allegations are insufficient. Florida law requires “competent, substantial evidence” to support such allegations. Florida Appeals Court Reverses Decision… Read More »
Can a Judge Require “Security” for Alimony in a Florida Divorce Case?
A court may protect the recipient of an alimony award by requiring the payer to take out a life insurance policy (or bond) on themselves as a form of security for the alimony award. Florida law expressly authorizes such orders when the court makes “specific findings that there are special circumstances that warrant” such… Read More »
How Do You Prove a “Need” for Durational Alimony in a Miami High-End Divorce Case?
Although alimony was traditionally a means for stay-at-home wives to secure a measure of financial support in the event of a divorce, today either spouse can seek and receive alimony based on financial need. Under recent changes to Florida alimony laws, a party in a divorce can ask the court to award “durational alimony,”… Read More »