Fort Lauderdale Alimony Lawyer
Let Our Experienced Fort Lauderdale Family Law Attorneys Handle the Alimony Issues in Your Divorce
Alimony is an amount of money that the court can order one former spouse to pay to another as part of a divorce, for the support and maintenance of the receiving spouse. Florida family law judges do not automatically include an order for alimony as part of every divorce. Instead, one of the parties to the divorce must first request that alimony be included in the divorce. The requesting party must prove that he or she needs the alimony requested and that the other party has the ability to pay it. The party being asked to pay alimony may of course oppose this request, and litigation may be necessary, with the judge deciding whether to order alimony or not.
The Fort Lauderdale alimony lawyers at Trachman & Ballot-Lena, PA have decades of combined experience handling Broward County divorce cases. If alimony is an issue in your divorce, our Fort Lauderdale divorce lawyers can provide strong, effective representation to present your side to the judge in a compelling and persuasive fashion, whether you are the party seeking alimony or the one being asked to pay.
Alimony awards can be significant, and they can last for several years or a lifetime. Read on to learn more about alimony in Florida, and contact Trachman & Ballot-Lena, PA for help with alimony in your divorce in Fort Lauderdale or Fort Lauderdale.
Different Types of Alimony under Florida Divorce Law
If the judge decides an alimony award is appropriate, the next step is to determine which type of alimony is proper and how much to award, whether in one lump sum or over time through periodic payments. A Florida family law judge can award any of five different types of alimony:
Bridge-the-Gap – This type of alimony can last for as long as two years. It is awarded to help the receiving spouse make the transition from married life to single life.
Rehabilitative – Rehabilitative alimony is meant to aid the receiving spouse while gaining education, refreshing job skills, or acquiring sufficient work experience to become self-supporting. Rehabilitative alimony is awarded according to a written rehabilitation plan which outlines the steps the person will take toward self-sufficiency.
Durational – Durational alimony is simply an award of economic assistance which is ordered for a definite period of time, but not permanently.
Permanent – Alimony can be awarded permanently to a person who lacks the financial ability to provide for the necessities of life as they were established during the marriage. Florida alimony law defines marriages as short-term, long-term or moderate, and the likelihood of a court making a permanent alimony award is much greater in the case of long-term marriages which lasted for at least 17 years.
How the Florida Courts Decide Alimony Cases
When deciding which type of alimony and how much is appropriate, the court will consider a number of different factors, including:
- The standard of living which was established during the marriage
- How long the marriage lasted
- Each spouse’s age and physical and emotional health
- Each spouse’s financial resources
- The equitable distribution of property made to each spouse
- Each spouse’s earning capacity, level of education, job skills and employability
- The contributions each spouse made to the marriage, including taking care of the home and children and helping the other spouse build a career
- The parenting responsibilities of each party
- The consequences of alimony on each party’s taxes
- Any other factors which might be relevant to making a fair alimony award
How Our Fort Lauderdale Divorce Lawyers can Help
The divorce lawyers at Trachman & Ballot-Lena, PA can help in this process by analyzing how each of the above factors impact your case. We gather the necessary evidence by collecting and examining documents, deposing witnesses, and taking other steps to build a strong case regarding what type of alimony is appropriate and what the size of the award should be. When the parties are opposing each other on the question of alimony, you want strong courtroom experience on your side. Trachman & Ballot-Lena, PA provides the level of experience you need to promote your interests in Broward County family courts.
Call Trachman & Ballot-Lena for Divorce in Fort Lauderdale
For practical legal advice and excellent representation in a Fort Lauderdale drug crime prosecution, call Trachman & Ballot-Lena, PA at 954-462-2208 or Mr. Trachman’s cellphone at 954-288-9293 to have your case reviewed at no cost by an experienced and successful Broward County criminal defense attorney.
