Sarasota Alimony Lawyer

Alimony Representation Informed by Mental Health Counseling & More Than 20 Years of Experience

Filing for divorce can raise immediate questions about how you’ll support yourself during and after the process. Perhaps you left the workforce to care for your children or family and now wonder whether you can secure adequate employment as a single parent.

Whether you were married briefly or for many years, you may be entitled to alimony, or financial assistance, from your ex-spouse. Alimony isn’t automatically awarded in Florida. A court first considers whether the requesting spouse has an actual need and whether the other spouse has the ability to pay. At Boeller Law, P.A., our Sarasota alimony lawyer brings more than 20 years of family-law experience and a background that combines legal representation with compassion for the financial and emotional realities of divorce.

Seeking Alimony? Contact Boeller Law, P.A. at (941) 315-8598 or schedule a consultation online with our alimony attorney.

How Does Alimony Work in Florida?

Under Florida law, alimony may also be known as “maintenance.” A court may award alimony during or after divorce if the statutory requirements are met. Marriage length is an important factor when determining alimony under Florida Statutes Section 61.08. Marriages are currently classified as short-term, moderate-term, or long-term:

• Short-term: Less than 10 years.
• Moderate-term: 10 years to less than 20 years.
• Long-term: 20 years or longer.

Factors Influencing Alimony Decisions in Sarasota Courts

When deciding alimony matters, a Florida court reviews the following aspects:

• The duration of the marriage
• The marital standard of living
• The financial situation of the spouse seeking alimony
• The earning capacity, education, vocational skills, and employability of each spouse
• The age, physical, mental, and emotional condition of each spouse
• Each spouse’s contributions to the marriage, including homemaking and child-care responsibilities
• The responsibilities each party will have for minor children after the divorce
• The economic impact of any adultery during the marriage

We evaluate alimony issues within the broader financial and family circumstances of your divorce case, taking into account all relevant factors before advising on strategy or potential considerations.

Types of Alimony Available Under Florida Law

Florida law permits several forms of alimony, and a court may order periodic or lump-sum payments depending on the circumstances. Permanent alimony is no longer available for new petitions governed by the statute that took effect on July 1, 2023. The form, amount, and duration of any award depend on the facts, pleadings, applicable law, and court’s findings.

Florida has multiple types of alimony, including:

• Temporary: This type of alimony helps the recipient remain financially stable during the divorce process and ends when the divorce is finalized.
• Bridge-the-gap: This form of spousal support addresses identifiable short-term transition needs as a spouse moves from married to single life. It may not exceed two years and isn’t modifiable in amount or duration once ordered.
• Rehabilitative: The court may award rehabilitative support when one spouse can become self-supporting but needs time and financial assistance to develop the necessary skills to enter the workforce. A specific and defined rehabilitative plan is required, and this form may not exceed five years under current Florida law.
• Durational: Durational alimony provides support for a set period and doesn’t require a plan to enter the workforce. It can’t follow a marriage lasting less than three years and is subject to statutory duration limits based on the length of the marriage.

Whether your situation calls for negotiated terms or courtroom advocacy, we handle alimony matters through both settlement and litigation. We use the financial record and statutory factors to advocate for your position.

Depending on the form of support, the order or agreement, and the applicable law, an alimony order may be modified when circumstances change.