When people are married for a significant amount of time, they often become financially dependent on one another. If one person worked and made money to support the family, the other person may be out of luck when it comes to supporting themselves once the couple separates. Alimony is designed to help the financially dependent party get back on their feet or live after their financial provider is no longer available. There are four different types of alimony available to divorcees in Florida, including permanent, durational, bridge-the-gap, or rehabilitative.
Permanent alimony is awarded to people who are unable to provide themselves once the divorce is finalized. This type of alimony may be used in a long-duration marriage, as well as a short-duration marriage where extenuating circumstances are involved. For example, if a couple has been married for 30 years, and one party was the sole-financial contributor to the family, the other party may not have the means, skills or education to provide for themselves.
Durational alimony, on the other hand, is issued for a set period of time. This time period cannot be longer than the duration of the marriage. For instance, if the couple was married for five years, durational alimony cannot be ordered for longer than five years.
With a bridge-the-gap alimony arrangement, people are given alimony for a short period of time following the divorce. This allows them to get back on their feet and transition into being single. Rehabilitative alimony may be given while the other spouse regains the ability to provide for themselves following a divorce.