Permanent vs. Rehabilitative Alimony

Alimony is a kind of financial support that one spouse pays to another following a divorce. Most people think of it as payments that a man makes to his former wife, but this is not always the case. A woman may be ordered to pay alimony to her ex-husband, or these payments may not be awarded to either spouse. Whether alimony is required, and in what amount, is based on a number of factors.

If you are planning to file for divorce, you may be wondering what your rights and responsibilities will be with regards to spousal support. At the Schlegel Law Group, we pride ourselves on our ability to provide fast, clear, and useful information for divorcing couples. Call our Orlando alimony attorneys today at 407-648-0280.

Determining Alimony

In the state of Florida, alimony payments fall into one of two categories: permanent or rehabilitative. A person who receives rehabilitative alimony is expected to use the money to make whatever arrangements are necessary to achieve independence. For example, he or she may need help paying for continued education or healthcare until he or she can find a good job. Rehabilitative alimony can end when a certain time period is over or certain conditions are met.

As the name suggests, permanent alimony does not end when the recipient finds a job or meets some other condition. These payments are generally intended to last for the rest of the recipient’s life. They are usually made in weekly or monthly payments, although they can sometimes be paid to the recipient in one lump sum.

A court will consider many factors when deciding what kind of alimony to award, including each spouse’s age, income, and level of ability. Our experienced Orlando alimony lawyers can inform you about the likely outcome of your case and effective methods for protecting your rights.

Contact Us

Spousal support can be a contentious subject during the divorce process. To learn about helping your proceedings run as smoothly as possible, contact the Orlando alimony attorneys of the Schlegel Law Group at 407-648-0280.