Fort Lauderdale Permanent Alimony Lawyers

A prospective alimony determination is often one of the most troubling issues in a Florida divorce.  The spouse requesting support may have been completely dependent on one’s spouse during the marriage.  This is commonly the case with a stay-at-home parent or homemaker.  For a spouse in this situation, the prospect of suddenly being without the income of one’s spouse can be overwhelming.

If you have been the high earner or sole breadwinner during your marriage, the prospect of suddenly being forced to live on only a portion of your income may mean a substantial impact on your established standard of living.  An unfavorable permanent alimony order may mean enormous financial sacrifices and substantial challenges in rebuilding your life as a single person.

While it is fairly easy to determine whether a court is likely to order some sort of post-judgement alimony, it can be far less clear how much support the court will order and the duration of that alimony order.  If you or your spouse have filed for divorce, contact the Fort Lauderdale permanent alimony lawyers of Eric N. Klein & Associates, P.A. at 954-580-8080 today for more information regarding your legal rights and options with respect to permanent alimony.

What is Permanent Alimony?

Alimony is sometimes referred to as spousal support because it is a payment that one spouse makes to the other after the marriage has been dissolved. These are recurring payments that are usually made on a monthly basis.  The type of alimony awarded generally depends on the duration of the marriage.  Marriages are characterized as follows:

• Marriage of Short Duration: Marriage shorter than seven years in length

• Marriage of Moderate Duration: Marriage between 7-17 years in length

• Marriage of Long-Duration: Marriage longer than 17 years in length

It should be pointed out that the term “permanent alimony” is somewhat of a misnomer as used here because an alimony order is rarely permanent.  There are four separate forms of longer-term alimony that may be awarded in a final divorce decree in Florida with one actually being called permanent.  The four types of post-judgment alimony that may be awarded in a Florida divorce include:

• Bridge the Gap Alimony-This type of alimony is intended to be short-term and simply provide for short-term financial needs of a spouse transitioning from marriage to single life.  This form of alimony is limited to a maximum of two years in duration.  This type of support may not be modified in duration or amount.

• Rehabilitative Alimony- This type of alimony is designed to help a spouse become self-supporting.  Alimony of this type is intended to assist a spouse in obtaining education and training that will allow the spouse to develop the ability to provide for his or her own financial needs.

• Durational Alimony-This type of spousal support is awarded for a specific duration and is typically awarded where the marriage was between 7-17 years (a marriage of moderate duration).  This type of alimony is ordered for a specific number of years, but the duration may not exceed the length of the marriage.  This form of alimony can be modified in amount but not length of time it is paid.

• Permanent Alimony-This form of alimony is intended to provide for the needs of a spouse as determined by the standard of living during the marriage.  This type of support does not typically terminate until remarriage of the recipient spouse or the death of either spouse.  Generally, this type of support is appropriate for a marriage of long duration but may be awarded in a marriage of moderate duration in some circumstances.

The court will evaluate a number of statutory factors in determining the appropriateness of awarding post-judgement alimony.  These factors are complicated and require a detailed analysis of financial considerations of the parties including income, standard of living, liquidity, assets, obligations to care for the children and other factors.  The point is that there is no simple mathematical formula.  Disputes involving alimony can be some of the most highly contested and factually complex of divorce issues.  Whether you are the spouse that is seeking to receive or the spouse expected to pay spousal support, the experienced post-judgement spousal support alimony attorneys at Eric N. Klein & Associates, P.A. will help you fight for a spousal support order that you find appropriate.

Contact Us

An experienced Fort Lauderdale spousal support lawyer should negotiate alimony payments. If you and your spouse are getting divorced, contact the Fort Lauderdale permanent alimony attorneys of Eric N. Klein & Associates, P.A. at 954-580-8080 for more information about skilled and dedicated legal representation in your alimony dispute.

Our experienced and dedicated permanent alimony lawyers provide legal representation in Fort Lauderdale and throughout Broward County as well as Coconut Creek, Coral Springs, Davie, Deerfield Beach, Hollywood, Lauderdale, Margate, Miramar, North Lauderdale, Oakland Park, Pembroke Pines, Plantation, Pompano Beach, Sunrise, Weston and all surrounding areas including smaller incorporated and unincorporated areas.  We will analyze your situation so that we can provide the legal advice and guidance you need to make your divorce a start to a positive new beginning, please contact us today by calling 954-580-8080.