Marriage involves intentionally combining households and finances, at least, in most cases. Spouses share their financial resources and may each make sacrifices for the benefit of the household. For example, one spouse might leave their job if the couple decides to have children. They may stay home with the children to provide them with the best care possible and eliminate childcare expenses.
Taking time away from career development may reduce how much someone can earn when they return to work. Some people may have been away from their careers for so long that they essentially need to start from the beginning again. Alimony can potentially help dependent or lower-earning spouses prepare for independence after a divorce if they cannot live on what they can currently earn.
How long do alimony payments usually last?
The law looks at the length of the marriage
Florida has very clear statutes about alimony payments. The length of the marriage has a direct impact on the duration of an alimony order. Under current Florida statutes, alimony generally lasts no more than 50% of the length of a marriage that lasted less than ten years. If a couple remains married between 10 and 20 years, alimony can last for 60% of the length of the marriage. For long-term marriages of 20 years or more, alimony can persist for 75% of the duration of the marriage.
In some cases with extenuating circumstances, spouses seeking alimony could request longer-term support. However, the goal of alimony is to help someone become independent, not to indefinitely support them in most cases.
Alimony may end early
Regardless of how long the alimony order is for initially, it may end prematurely in certain cases. If the spouse paying alimony has a sudden drop in income, that could lead to reduced alimony payments or an early end of alimony in some scenarios. If the recipient spouse improves their circumstances, that would likely also lead to an early termination of the alimony order. If the recipient spouse remarries or begins cohabitating with the romantic partner, that could also lead to the early end of alimony obligations.
People who learn more about Florida’s unique alimony laws can more readily plan for the future after divorce. Learning about what is possible in a Florida divorce by seeking legal guidance can help people feel more prepared for divorce negotiations or family court.