Alimony is essentially a court ordered payment, mandated by law, from one spouse to the other after a divorce. There are two forms of alimony payment that can be awarded by the court, Rehabilitative and Permanent. Rehabilitative alimony is ordered to help defray costs incurred by the divorce and also, enables the other party to establish financial security and independence after the divorce. For example, this could be set in place to allow for proper education of a housewife. However,Permanent alimony exists until the partner becomes able to support themselves or once they begin a new relationship with a "supportive" partner. It is important to understand there are variations of alimony as well as determining factors that play in to how much money will be awarded.
When awarding the amount of alimony in Florida, the courts look at these factors:
The standard of living established during the marriage.
The duration of the wedding; long-lasting marriage vs. a short marriage.
The age and physical and emotional condition of each party.
The financial resources, non-marital assets, marital assets and debts and liabilities to both.
The amount of time needed to allow training or education to allow dependent party to find appropriate employment.
Contribution to the marriage by each party (including home-making and child rearing duties).
All forms of income that both parties generate.
It is also important to note, that the court may order payment in the form of a lump sum payment, or periodic payments or possibly even a combination of both to be awarded. You should seek legal consultation with a specialized divorce attorney in order to win, and to get the types of payment you think would benefit your family most.
