A bill that could drastically change Florida’s alimony laws is working its way through the committee process in the state capitol, according to a report from WCTV. The bill seeks to eliminate permanent alimony in the state of Florida.
Currently, Florida’s alimony laws allow for permanent alimony; this states that when a couple divorces, the obligor, for the rest of his or her life, would render alimony payments to the obligee.
Historically and through the perspective of the traditional family model, this meant that a husband would be responsible for rendering support to his ex-wife to keep her standard of living in line with what she experienced during the marriage.
However, the traditional family model has changed substantially throughout the years, and men are no longer necessarily the sole income providers. Women have more options to pursue a career, while at the same time, long-term careers are no longer as stable as they once were.
Opponents of the bill claim that the provisions of the bill are too one-sided in favor of the obligor, and are concerned that such a bill would swamp the courts with divorce settlement restructuring cases.
The bill, if passed, would include the following provisions, according to an article from the Digital Journal:
- Elimination of permanent alimony.
- Alimony payments would potentially cease once the obligor reaches retirement age
- Marital standard of living would not be a consideration in the initial alimony settlement
- Assets acquired before the marriage, income or assets of subsequent spouses and social security benefits would not be available for alimony payments
The bill has passed a few committees in the House and Senate and could be ready for a vote on the floor before the end of March.
Whether or not the bill ultimately passes, if you are in need of wise guidance through a divorce settlement, please contact us today. We offer free consultations, and are happy to help our clients reach a settlement that is fair to both parties in a divorce settlement.
