Alimony
Fla. Stat. 61.08 — bridge-the-gap up to 2 years, rehabilitative up to 5, durational tied to the marriage's length
A Florida court may award temporary, bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative or durational alimony, periodic or lump sum. It first decides whether the spouse asking has an actual need and the other has the ability to pay; the spouse asking carries the burden on both. The court may consider adultery and its economic impact.
| Form | Limit |
|---|---|
| FormBridge-the-gap | LimitNot more than 2 years; ends on death or the recipient's remarriage; not modifiable |
| FormRehabilitative | LimitNot more than 5 years, with a specific rehabilitative plan |
| FormDurational | LimitNot after a marriage of less than 3 years; not more than 50 percent of a short marriage, 60 percent of a moderate one, 75 percent of a long one |
Short, moderate, long. A marriage of less than 10 years is presumed short, 10 to 20 years moderate, and 20 years or longer long, measured from the wedding to the filing. Durational alimony is the recipient's reasonable need or 35 percent of the difference between the spouses' net incomes, whichever is less.
Sources for this section (1)
- Fla. Stat. 61.08 — Alimony
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Florida attorney.