If you’re getting divorced in Orlando, FL, state law requires you to resolve all of the terms of your split before it can be finalized; including spousal support. Whether you need to request alimony or contest your spouse’s claim, call our Orlando spousal support lawyers from the Law Office Of Paulette Hamilton Divorce Lawyers at (407) 420-2311 for help.
For over a decade, our lawyers have helped clients navigate complex family law disputes. We offer compassionate, trustworthy legal representation when it’s needed most, and we are driven to get clients the outcome they want.
Contact our law office in Orlando to discover how our top-rated family law attorneys might be able to help you navigate your spousal support claim, too.
How the Law Office Of Paulette Hamilton Divorce Lawyers Can Help You Navigate a Claim For Spousal Support in Orlando, FL
Getting divorced in Orlando, Florida, is one of the most stressful times in your life. Now, you’ll be single, which means surviving on a single income. If you and your spouse earned significantly different sums of money, or if one of you was a stay-at-home parent, it can be challenging to make this transition and maintain the quality of life you had while you were married.
Spousal support, or alimony, can be a lifeline as you get your life back together. However, emotions can cloud parties’ judgments as they navigate these delicate family law matters. Working with an experienced Orlando family law attorney is the best way to protect your best interests.
At the Law Office Of Paulette Hamilton Divorce Lawyers, clients work with attorneys who are dedicated to providing representation that’s grounded in service, compassion, excellence, and honesty. Many of the spousal support cases we handle come from former client referrals because our clients are an extension of our family. We strive to achieve amicable results but aren’t afraid to rise to the occasion and be aggressive when it’s in our client’s best interests.
When you ask for our help with your spousal support case, we will:
- Gather evidence to support your request for spousal support or to show that your soon-to-be-ex does not need alimony to maintain their lifestyle
- Build a strong legal claim that’s supported by case law, evidence, expert testimony, and facts to help you get the end results you deserve
- Work closely with forensic accountants, vocational specialists, psychologists, medical professionals, and other experts who can lend strength to your claim
- Utilize alternative dispute resolution (ADR) strategies to avoid the stress and cost of going to court to resolve the terms of your spousal support case
- Represent you at case-related hearing and, if necessary, at trial
Once spousal support is resolved, the terms of the agreement will be binding. So, it’s important to make sure you get them right from the start. Our Florida spousal support lawyers in Orlando are here to help you every step of the way through the divorce process.
Contact our law office today to discuss your spousal support case with our Orlando divorce lawyers.
What Is Spousal Support?
When you get divorced, finances are separated. Many times, neither spouse earns the same amount of money. If the income disparity is significant, the lesser-earning spouse can request spousal support or alimony.
Spousal support is intended to help the lesser-earning spouse get back on their feet and find their way forward by reducing the financial stress they might otherwise experience.
The state of Florida recognizes several different types of spousal support, each designed to facilitate post-divorce life in a different way.
These include:
Temporary Alimony
Temporary alimony can be awarded while a divorce is still ongoing. It’s intended to help the lesser-earning spouse cover basic living expenses and maintain their quality of life while they make more permanent financial arrangements in anticipation of their divorce being finalized.
Many times, temporary alimony terminates when a judge approves a divorce, but there are also times when it can continue pursuant to a court order.
Bridge-the-Gap Alimony
Bridge-the-gap alimony “assists a party with legitimate identifiable short-term needs” for no longer than two years after their divorce. It’s intended to give the spouse time to find a job or adjust to life on a reduced scale.
Rehabilitative Alimony
Sometimes, in a marriage, one spouse gives up their job to support the other spouse’s education or career and/or to raise a family. Rehabilitative alimony is intended to help a spouse who’s made sacrifices for their family get back into the workforce. This type of alimony can be awarded when the lesser-earning spouse needs to spend time redeveloping their skills or credentials or to go back to school to get into the workforce.
Rehabilitative alimony is paid for a maximum of five years.
Durational Alimony
Durational alimony is only appropriate when spouses are married for at least three years. This type of alimony is paid for a limited time, based on the length of the marriage.
- Short-Term Marriage: not to exceed 50 percent of the length of the marriage
- Moderate-Term Marriage: not to exceed 60 percent of the length of the marriage
- Long-Term Marriage: not to exceed 75 percent of the length of the marriage
For example, a short-term marriage is defined as one lasting less than 10 years. So, if a couple were married for six years, the maximum duration for this type of alimony would be three years.
Florida once recognized permanent alimony, which no longer applies to couples divorcing after July 1, 2023.
How Is Spousal Support Calculated in Orlando?
Unlike some states, Florida does not have strict rules for calculating spousal support payments. Instead, the specific needs and capabilities of the parties in each individual case are considered.
In fact, divorcing couples are highly encouraged to negotiate the terms of spousal support on their own to maintain some level of control over the payments.
However, when a spousal support case gets in front of a judge, several factors will be considered:
- How long were the spouses married?
- How much does each spouse currently earn?
- What’s each spouse’s earning capacity?
- What standard of living have the spouses enjoyed?
- Has one spouse sacrificed their career to benefit their family?
- If so, how long have they been out of the workforce?
- How much support does the party requesting alimony need to maintain their quality of life?
- How much can the paying spouse afford, especially when factors like child support are taken into consideration?
The longer spouses are married and the greater the disparity in their incomes, the more likely it becomes that the spouse requesting alimony will receive substantial payments. However, spousal support only provides temporary financial support. The receiving spouse must always work toward finding a way to financial independence and self-stability.
Can Spousal Support Payments in Orlando Be Modified?
The divorce terms – including child custody, child support, property division, and spousal support – are all binding once they are finalized. However, a court order can modify most of these terms when one party offers a compelling reason.
Most spousal support agreements can be modified. The only exception is bridge-the-gap alimony, which is always paid for two years.
When Do I Have to Request Spousal Support If I’m Getting Divorced in Orlando?
If you request spousal support, you must do so before your divorce is finalized. Once your marriage is officially over in the eyes of the court, you will typically forfeit the right to ask for financial assistance from your former spouse.
So, it’s imperative that you take stock of your financial situation and determine your ability to transition from married life to single life before your divorce is over. If you believe that you’ll need help making ends meet and moving forward with your life, now is the time to formally request spousal support.
Call a Top-Rated Orlando Spousal Support Lawyers For Help Today
You’re getting divorced, so it might be easy to understand why your soon-to-be former spouse would not want to make alimony payments. However, Florida law indicates that spousal support can be necessary in many situations, especially when you’ve made sacrifices for the benefit of your family. You have rights, and the best way to assert them to the full extent of the law is by hiring an experienced Orlando spousal support lawyer to represent you.
Choosing the Law Office Of Paulette Hamilton Divorce Lawyers puts honest, passionate, and experienced divorce attorneys with 15+ years of experience handling complex family law disputes in your corner. You become family, and we’re prepared to fight for you in any way that we can.
Contact our divorce attorneys in Orlando, FL, today to discuss the details of your spousal support claim and discover how we might be able to help. Members of our team are always standing by to take your call.
