On behalf of The Law Office of Gustavo E. Frances, P.A.
One of the most contentious parts of any divorce process tends to be issues surrounding spousal maintenance, commonly called alimony. What many people may not realize is that there are various forms of alimony that the court can assign. At The Law Office Of Gustavo E. Frances, P.A., we understand that this is a hard time for you and we want help. Our qualified and experienced team will look into all aspects of your divorce and ensure you are being treated fairly. Today, our Fort Lauderdale divorce attorney wants to discuss temporary alimony. What is it and why is it only temporary?
The Purpose Of Temporary Alimony
There are various types of alimony in Florida:
- Temporary
- Bridge-the-gap
- Rehabilitative
- Durational
- Permanent
All of this can get confusing, but today we want to focus on temporary alimony.
Temporary alimony is considered by the Florida courts as it balances the needs of the requesting spouse with the ability of the other spouse to pay. Temporary alimony is also known as alimony “pendente lite,” which means that it will last only for the time it takes for the divorce to finalize.
Temporary alimony will be used to support the spouse of lesser means while the divorce is ongoing to help them maintain the standard of living they have been accustomed to during the course of the marriage. Divorce proceedings can last anywhere from a few months to well over a year, depending on the circumstances of the divorce.
Temporary alimony ends as soon as the divorce becomes final, but it can transition into other types of alimony, including other forms of “temporary” alimony.
- Bridge-the-gap alimony is typically short-term (maximum of two years) and used to help the receiving spouse make ends meet while waiting for a house to sell, the completion of education or training, etc.
- Rehabilitative alimony is used specifically to help the receiving spouse gain education or job training so they can become self-sufficient.
- Durational alimony is used when other types of temporary alimony are not sufficient but will only last for the same amount of time the marriage lasted.
Temporary alimony can also transition into permanent alimony. All of these decisions will be reached by the court after looking at the totality of the economic factors of both spouses, standards of living, the duration of the marriage, the age of the spouses, and more.
Let Us Get To Work On Your Behalf
If you are going through a divorce, you should strongly consider securing help from an attorney. At The Law Office Of Gustavo E. Frances, P.A., we are ready to step in and help you through every step of the divorce process. We know that alimony can be particularly difficult to deal with, but that is only one aspect of the entire process. Our knowledgeable and experienced team will work to ensure the divorce is finalized in a fair manner for you so that you can move forward with your life. When you need a Fort Lauderdale divorce lawyer, you can contact us by calling 954-533-2756 for a free consultation.
