Accomplished Attorneys Litigate Alimony Spousal Support in Tampa, Florida

Trustworthy representation for your future financial security

When a couple divorces, financial uncertainty can cause a great deal of anxiety. A dependent spouse may worry how long it will take to become self-supporting, while a primary breadwinner has to wonder if it’s possible to support two separate households. As your divorce counsel, the Sessums Law Group works diligently to negotiate spousal support agreements that place you on the firmest possible financial footing. When agreement is not possible, we litigate disputes aggressively to help ensure your future security.

How does spousal support work in Tampa, Florida?

In Florida, spousal support, or alimony, is gender neutral, so either spouse could be the one paying or receiving support depending on their financial circumstances. Florida family law provides for a number of types of alimony:

• Temporary alimony — During the divorce, the court can order the primary earner to pay a dependent spouse support for reasonable maintenance expenses, including legal fees.
• Bridge-the-gap alimony — This type of support is meant to cover the period of transition as a dependent spouse becomes self-supporting.
• Rehabilitative alimony — If a dependent spouse needs further education or job training, the court can order payments for a certain amount of time to cover maintenance and related expenses.
• Durational alimony — In a short-term marriage or even one of moderate duration, the court can order maintenance payments for a set period of years. Durational alimony cannot last for longer than the length of the marriage.
• Permanent alimony — For long-term marriages or situations where a dependent spouse cannot be expected to become self-supporting, the court can order permanent alimony, which lasts until the death of either spouse or until a subsequent court order cancels it. If the court decides to award permanent alimony for a marriage of less than seven years’ duration, the court must cite “clear and convincing evidence” for doing so.

The purpose of alimony is to help ensure that divorce does not unjustly enrich one spouse to the detriment of the other. As your advocates, we do everything possible to ensure financial transparency throughout the process so the court has a reasonable basis for ruling on the issue.

How do Florida courts calculate alimony?

Florida alimony law is concerned with promoting fairness. To balance equities, the court considers a number of factors written into the Florida statutes. These include:

• The length of the marriage
• The age and health of each spouse
• The contributions each spouse has made to the marriage
• The relative earning capacities of the spouses
• Whether one spouse is the primary caregiver for young children

Overall, the objective is to hold a dependent spouse, as nearly as possible, at the standard of living enjoyed during the marriage. However, a court may also consider adultery as a factor to reduce an award of alimony.

The Sessums Law Group works diligently to assemble the evidence that places you in the best light so the court can apply the relevant factors to reach a favorable conclusion.

Contact a family law–certified attorney in Tampa to resolve your alimony dispute

Your financial future may depend on the alimony order that comes out of your divorce. Sessums Law Group provides trustworthy representation for alimony disputes in Tampa and the greater Bay area. Please call 813-435-5058 or contact us online to schedule an appointment at our Tampa office. We also have offices in Lakeland, Sebring and Sarasota.