What types of alimony does Florida recognize?

Many people sacrifice their own careers or education for the sake of their romantic partner’s, and if you count yourself among the many Florida residents who did so, you may have cause to pursue alimony when your marriage ends. On the flip side, if you were the main breadwinner in your marriage and your relationship ends, you may wonder if you are going to have to pay alimony, and if so, how much you might have to pay and for how long.

Per the Florida Legislature, if Florida’s court system does decide to make an alimony award in your split, it may do so through either periodic payments or a lump-sum payment. There are four main types of alimony the state may award you or your ex-spouse, depending on circumstances. These four types are as follows.

Bridge-the-gap alimony

If you or your ex have legitimate short-term needs but should be able to become self-supportive in time, the courts may award bridge-the-gap alimony. This type of alimony last two years at most.

Rehabilitative alimony

Rehabilitative alimony may come into play if one of you needs some time to become self-sufficient and has an established plan in place to do so.

Durational alimony

Durational alimony lasts for a set time and may come into play in marriages of any length. It ends either when the duration expires, when one party dies or when the receiving party remarries.

Permanent alimony

Courts may make permanent alimony awards following long marriages when the odds of one party becoming employable and self-sufficient are low.

It is also worth noting that the courts may award you or your former partner one or more of the types of alimony outlined above, depending on the specifics of your situation.