Starting July 1 2010 a new alimony law went into effect which made substantial changes to the alimony laws in Florida. The most important changes concern under what circumstances the court is likely to award alimony to a spouse. The statute attempts to eliminate some of the uncertainty that previously existed in the area of spousal support by establishing a form of alimony called durational alimony. The law now provides that for purposes of determining alimony, there is now a rebuttable presumption that a short-term marriage is a marriage having a duration of less than 7 years, a moderate-term marriage is a marriage having a duration of greater than 7 years but less than 17 years, and long-term marriage is a marriage having a duration of 17 years or greater. The length of a marriage is the period of time from the date of marriage until the date of filing of an action for dissolution of marriage. Durational alimony may be awarded when permanent periodic alimony is inappropriate.
The foregoing is just a summary of the new law of alimony and support. If you are going through a divorce or contemplating divorce or separation and require support or are concerned about being assessed a support obligation you should consult with an experienced family lawyer for advice on how best to ensure that your rights are protected in the Divorce process. Please contact Pembroke Pines family lawyer Steven Friedman online or call us at 954-385-7282 to set up a free initial consultation.
Contact a Pembroke Pines Alimony Lawyer at the firm to discuss your legal situation.