Florida Alimony Lawyers
Whether you spent twenty years out of the workforce raising children or you’re the breadwinner staring at a number that would sink you, the starting point is the same: know what the law actually allows before you negotiate a dollar of it.
The Four Types of Florida Alimony
Under Fla. Stat. § 61.08, a judge can award one or a combination of:
| Type | What it’s for | How long |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary | Keeping the lights on while the divorce is pending | Ends at the final judgment |
| Bridge-the-gap | Short-term transition needs — a deposit, a move, first months alone | Up to 2 years; can’t be modified |
| Rehabilitative | Funding a specific plan to become self-supporting — a degree, a license, retraining | Up to 5 years, tied to a written plan |
| Durational | Ongoing support after longer marriages | Capped by the length of the marriage (below) |
How Long and How Much: The 2023 Caps
Durational alimony — the closest thing left to long-term support — now has hard limits:
- Length: up to 50% of a marriage under 10 years, 60% of a 10–20 year marriage, and 75% of a marriage of 20 years or more. A marriage’s length runs from the wedding date to the date the divorce was filed.
- Amount: the recipient’s reasonable need, or 35% of the difference between the spouses’ net incomes — whichever is less.
- No alimony at all in marriages under 3 years, for the durational type.
Within those caps, judges weigh the standard of living during the marriage, each spouse’s earning capacity, contributions like staying home with children, and more. Adultery can matter, but only through its economic impact. For worked examples and a number to start from, use our Florida alimony guide and calculator.
Why the Financial Evidence Is the Whole Game
“Need” and “ability to pay” are proven with documents, not adjectives. Both spouses exchange tax returns, pay stubs, and account statements through mandatory disclosure, and the financial affidavits become the backbone of the case. Where income is complicated — a business, commissions, investments — the analysis gets forensic. See divorce with a business and high-asset divorce.
This is also where representation matters most. An inflated expense list or an understated income can swing alimony by hundreds of thousands of dollars over its life. We build the record that supports the right number — and challenge the record that doesn’t.
Alimony Can Change After the Divorce
Except for bridge-the-gap, alimony isn’t necessarily forever, and the 2023 law added clear off-ramps. See Fla. Stat. § 61.14.
Retirement. A payor who reaches normal retirement age and actually retires can ask the court to reduce or end alimony, and can file up to six months before retiring.
A supportive relationship. If the recipient lives with a partner and shares finances, the court must reduce or terminate alimony once the relationship is proven — no marriage required.
Remarriage or a substantial change in income also end or adjust support.
We handle these cases in both directions: pursuing a reduction when circumstances have genuinely changed, and defending support when they haven’t. See modifications, and for later-in-life cases where alimony meets Social Security and pensions, our guide to divorce after 60.