How Does Alimony Work in Florida? A Guide to Spousal Support Laws

Florida’s 2023 alimony reform eliminated permanent spousal support and replaced it with four types of alimony: temporary, bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, and durational. Courts determine awards by assessing each spouse’s need and the other’s ability to pay, as well as factors such as standard of living, health, and contributions to the marriage.

Key Takeaways:

• All spousal support now has a defined end date, with durational limits tied to whether the marriage was short-term (under 10 years), moderate-term (10–20 years), or long-term (20+ years).

• Courts calculate alimony by first determining need and ability to pay, then weighing factors such as standard of living, each spouse’s earning capacity, and contributions to the marriage, including homemaking and childcare.

• Either party can petition to modify an existing alimony order by demonstrating a substantial change in circumstances.

Divorce brings a whirlwind of emotions and decisions, but few concerns weigh as heavily as financial security. If you’ve built a life with your spouse, maybe stepping back from your career to raise children or supporting their professional growth, you may wonder how you’ll be able to make it on your own. On the other hand, if you’re the higher-earning spouse, you might worry about how long you’ll be required to pay and whether the amount will be fair.

Florida’s alimony laws exist to address these concerns, but they’ve undergone significant changes in recent years. Understanding how spousal support works in the Sunshine State will keep you from being blindsided and empower you to come up with a plan.

What Is Alimony and Why Does It Exist?

At its core, alimony is financial support that one spouse pays to the other during or after a divorce. The purpose isn’t to punish the higher earner or reward the lower earner. Instead, it recognizes that marriage is a partnership, and when that partnership ends, both parties should have the opportunity to move forward without facing an unfair economic disadvantage.

Consider a common scenario: one spouse paused their career for a decade to care for the children while the other climbed the corporate ladder. When the marriage ends, the stay-at-home parent may lack current job skills, professional connections, or recent work history. Alimony provides a bridge, giving them time and resources to rebuild their earning capacity.

Florida’s 2023 Alimony Reform: What Changed?

If you’ve heard anything about Florida alimony recently, you’ve probably heard that the state eliminated permanent alimony. This is true. In 2023, Governor DeSantis signed Senate Bill 1416 into law, fundamentally reshaping how Florida courts approach spousal support.

The new law promotes self-sufficiency and defines timeframes. Courts can no longer order one spouse to pay the other indefinitely, regardless of how long the marriage lasted. Instead, all alimony awards now come with clear end dates.

This reform affects both new divorces and, in some cases, existing alimony orders. If you’re currently paying or receiving alimony under an older agreement, you may have options to seek a modification under the new framework.

The Four Types of Alimony in Florida

Florida law now recognizes four categories of spousal support. Each serves a distinct purpose:

• Temporary Alimony: This support covers the period while your divorce is pending. It helps the lower-earning spouse maintain stability until the court issues a final divorce judgment.

• Bridge-the-Gap Alimony: Think of this as a short-term solution (2 years) for immediate needs. It helps cover expenses like moving costs, security deposits, or other necessities as you establish a separate household.

• Rehabilitative Alimony: This type supports a spouse who needs education or training to become self-sufficient. Perhaps the spouse needs to finish a degree, obtain a certification, or complete a professional program. Rehabilitative alimony requires a specific, court-approved plan outlining your goals and timeline, and is capped at 5 years.

• Durational Alimony: For situations requiring longer-term support, durational alimony may be ordered based on the duration of the marriage. Generally, the time frames fall into three categories:
  • Short-term marriages are less than 10 years
  • Moderate-term marriages are from 10 to 20 years
  • Long-term marriages are 20-plus years

These time frames significantly impact the types and duration of the alimony awarded by the court.

How Do Florida Courts Calculate Alimony?

Unlike child support, Florida doesn’t use a mathematical formula to determine alimony. Instead, courts apply a two-step analysis. First, the judge must determine whether one spouse has an actual need for support and whether the other spouse has the ability to pay. If the answer to both questions is yes, the court then decides how much and for how long.

When making these decisions, judges evaluate a wide range of factors, including:

• The standard of living established during the marriage
• The duration of the marriage
• Each spouse’s age and physical and emotional health
• The financial resources available to each party after property division
• Each spouse’s earning capacity, education, and employability
• Contributions to the marriage, including homemaking, childcare, and supporting the other spouse’s career
• Any responsibilities each party will have for minor children
• Tax consequences of alimony to both parties

Because judges have significant discretion in weighing these factors, two divorces with similar financial profiles can result in very different alimony outcomes. The way you present your case matters enormously.

Can You Modify an Existing Alimony Order?

Life doesn’t stop evolving after your divorce is finalized. Circumstances change—jobs are lost, health declines, retirement arrives—and the support arrangements that once made sense may no longer reflect reality. When your circumstances change substantially, your alimony order may no longer reflect reality.

Florida law allows either party to petition the court for a modification if they can demonstrate a “substantial change in circumstances.” This might include losing your job, experiencing a significant health issue that affects your ability to work, retiring, or, if the receiving spouse is living with a new partner in a supportive relationship.

The keyword here is “substantial.” Courts won’t modify alimony because of minor income fluctuations or temporary setbacks. You’ll need to show that the change is significant, permanent, and not something you voluntarily created to avoid your obligations.

Why Legal Representation Matters in Alimony Cases

Alimony decisions have long-lasting financial consequences. Whether you’re seeking support or concerned about paying more than you can reasonably afford, having skilled legal guidance can make a meaningful difference in your outcome.

An experienced attorney can help you gather and present evidence effectively, anticipate the other side’s arguments, and advocate persuasively before the court. They can also identify creative solutions, like lump-sum payments or structured settlements, that might serve both parties better than traditional monthly payments.

Perhaps most importantly, an attorney can help you understand what’s realistic. Florida’s alimony laws have changed dramatically, and misconceptions abound. You need advice grounded in current law and local court practices, not assumptions and rumors.

How Johnson Ritchey Family Law Can Help

At Johnson Ritchey Family Law, we understand that every dollar matters when you’re rebuilding your life after divorce. Our team brings over 85 years of combined experience to alimony cases throughout South Florida, and our firm is led by a board-certified family law specialist, a distinction held by fewer than 10% of Florida attorneys.

We believe in the power of “and.” We provide aggressive advocacy AND deep compassion. We offer legal expertise AND a down-to-earth, accessible approach. Whether your case calls for collaborative negotiation or courtroom litigation, we develop a strategy tailored to your unique circumstances.

Contact Johnson Ritchey Family Law today to request a free case evaluation and take the first step toward protecting your financial future.