It is not uncommon for one spouse to want spousal support during a divorce but for the other spouse to oppose the request for spousal support. For that reason, it is helpful for divorcing spouses to be familiar with how spousal support, or alimony, is decided in Florida.
How spousal support is determined in Florida
A list of factors is used to determine an alimony award during the divorce process. The factors that are considered include:
- The standard of living the spouses enjoyed prior to their divorce;
- The length of the marriage;
- The age of the spouses;
- The physical and emotional conditions of each of the spouses;
- The financial resources of each of the spouses;
- The income-earning capacity of each of the spouses;
- The earning potential of each of the spouses;
- The assets each spouse receives in the property division settlement during the couple’s divorce;
- The time that would be needed for the spouse requesting spousal support to acquire the education or training needed to secure appropriate employment that would allow them to become self-sufficient;
- Any services rendered by one of the spouses in the areas of homemaking and child rearing; and
- Any services rendered by one of the spouses directed at the career building and education of the other spouse.
All of these factors will be used by the family law court to determine if spousal support will be awarded, for how much and for how long. Spousal support can be a contentious issue during the divorce process so it is helpful for divorcing spouses to be as familiar as possible with how spousal support is determined during divorce.