Citrus County Alimony Attorney
More than 20 years of Florida legal experience. Based in Crystal River and representing clients throughout Citrus County in Florida alimony and spousal-support matters.
Alimony can be one of the most financially significant issues in a Florida divorce. Whether you are seeking support or being asked to pay it, the amount, type, and duration of an alimony award can affect your financial future for years.
Attorney Steven D. Fichtman helps clients understand how Florida alimony law applies to their circumstances, evaluate the financial evidence, and develop a strategy for protecting their interests.
Call 352-364-9112 | Schedule a Consultation
How Florida Courts Decide Alimony
Florida law requires the court to begin by determining whether the party requesting alimony has an actual need for support and whether the other party has the ability to pay. If both are established, the court then considers the statutory factors that apply to the amount, type, and duration of an award.
Those factors include the standard of living established during the marriage and the parties’ anticipated needs after the final judgment, the duration of the marriage, the parties’ ages and physical and mental condition, their income and earning capacities, financial resources, contributions to the marriage, responsibilities involving minor children, and other relevant circumstances recognized by Florida law.
Alimony is therefore not determined by a single formula. The financial evidence and the particular circumstances of the marriage matter.
Types of Alimony Available in Florida
Current Florida law permits several forms of alimony depending on the circumstances of the case.
- Temporary Alimony — Temporary support may be awarded while a divorce case is pending when appropriate under the circumstances.
- Bridge-the-Gap Alimony — Bridge-the-gap alimony is intended to assist with legitimate, identifiable short-term needs associated with the transition from married life to single life. It is limited in duration under Florida law.
- Rehabilitative Alimony — Rehabilitative alimony may be awarded to assist a spouse in developing the ability to become self-supporting through education, training, work experience, or redevelopment of prior skills or credentials. A specific and defined rehabilitative plan is required.
- Durational Alimony — Durational alimony may provide economic assistance for a defined period following a marriage. Florida law places limits on its duration based in part on the length of the marriage and also limits the amount that may be awarded.
Permanent alimony is no longer one of the forms of alimony authorized under Florida’s current statute.
Marriage Length Matters
Florida law classifies marriages by duration for purposes of alimony. The length of the marriage can affect whether durational alimony is available and the maximum period for which it may be awarded.
The date of marriage and the date the petition for dissolution is filed are therefore important when evaluating potential alimony exposure or entitlement.
How Fichtman Law Approaches an Alimony Case
- Start With the Financial Evidence — Alimony claims should be evaluated using reliable financial information rather than assumptions. We examine income, expenses, assets, liabilities, employment history, earning capacity, and the financial circumstances of both parties.
- Separate Need From Ability to Pay — A request for support involves two sides of the equation. The requesting spouse must establish actual need, and the other spouse’s ability to pay must also be evaluated.
- Organization Matters — Alimony cases can involve financial affidavits, tax returns, bank records, employment records, benefit information, budgets, business records, and other evidence. Our firm uses structured workflows to organize the information, identify gaps, and prepare the financial evidence for negotiation, mediation, or court.
- Strategy Before Action — Not every alimony dispute requires immediate litigation. Sometimes the most effective approach is obtaining additional financial information, evaluating earning capacity, negotiating a reasonable resolution, or narrowing the disputed issues before asking the court to decide them.
Preparation matters because an alimony position is only as strong as the financial evidence supporting it.
Income and Earning Capacity
A party’s current paycheck does not always answer the alimony question. Depending on the circumstances, the court may consider income from multiple sources and may consider earning capacity when a party is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed.
Employment history, education, skills, health, available employment, and other evidence may become important when income or earning capacity is disputed.
Standard of Living and Post-Divorce Needs
The standard of living established during the marriage remains a statutory consideration, but the court must also consider the parties’ anticipated needs and necessities after the divorce.
A post-divorce household generally has different expenses than an intact marital household. Careful review of claimed expenses and the parties’ available resources is therefore important.
Alimony and Property Division
Alimony does not exist in isolation from the rest of the divorce. The distribution of marital assets and liabilities can affect each party’s financial circumstances and may influence the alimony analysis.
Settlement negotiations should therefore consider property division and support together rather than evaluating each issue in a vacuum.
Learn More About Property Division
Alimony, Child Support, and Parenting Responsibilities
When the parties have minor children, the responsibilities associated with parenting and timesharing may affect employment, expenses, and the overall financial circumstances considered by the court.
Child support and alimony are separate legal issues, but both can affect the parties’ post-divorce financial picture.
Learn More About Child Support
Resolving Alimony by Agreement
Many alimony disputes are resolved through negotiation or mediation rather than trial. A negotiated resolution can provide greater predictability and may reduce the expense and uncertainty of continued litigation.
Any agreement involving alimony should clearly address the amount, duration, payment terms, tax considerations where applicable, and whether the support is modifiable or nonmodifiable to the extent permitted by law.
Before signing an agreement, both the immediate financial impact and the long-term consequences should be understood.
Resolution When Possible. Litigation When Necessary.
When Court Intervention Is Necessary
When the parties cannot reach a reasonable agreement, the court may be required to determine whether alimony should be awarded and, if so, its type, amount, and duration.
Contested alimony cases may require financial discovery, testimony concerning income and expenses, evidence regarding earning capacity, vocational evidence, expert testimony, or other financial proof depending on the issues involved.
Our focus is on identifying the financial issues, organizing the evidence, and presenting the client’s position clearly.
Modification and Termination of Alimony
Some alimony awards may later be modified or terminated depending on the type of alimony, the terms of the judgment or agreement, and the circumstances that develop after the divorce.
Florida law also addresses issues such as retirement and supportive relationships in appropriate cases. Whether modification or termination is available depends on the existing award and the facts involved.
If you are seeking to modify alimony or responding to a request for modification, the existing judgment or agreement should be reviewed carefully before taking action.
Alimony Questions Clients Commonly Ask
Who handles alimony cases in Citrus County?
Fichtman Law represents clients throughout Citrus County in Florida alimony matters, including clients seeking support and clients opposing alimony claims. The firm is based in Crystal River.
Is alimony automatic in a Florida divorce?
No. The court must first determine whether the requesting party has an actual need for alimony and whether the other party has the ability to pay before considering the remaining statutory factors.
Does Florida still have permanent alimony?
No. Permanent alimony is not one of the forms authorized under Florida’s current alimony statute. Current law provides for temporary, bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, and durational alimony in appropriate circumstances.
How much alimony can a court award?
There is no single amount that applies to every case. Florida law limits durational alimony and requires the court to evaluate actual need, ability to pay, and the statutory factors. The financial evidence in the particular case is critical.
How long can alimony last in Florida?
The answer depends on the type of alimony, the length of the marriage, and the circumstances of the case. Florida law places duration limits on durational alimony.
Does the length of the marriage matter?
Yes. Florida law classifies marriages by duration, and the length of the marriage can affect the availability and permissible duration of durational alimony.
Can I fight or oppose an alimony request?
A party asked to pay alimony may dispute whether the requesting spouse has established actual need, whether there is sufficient ability to pay, the amount or duration requested, or other financial and statutory issues supported by the evidence.
Can alimony be changed after the divorce?
Some alimony awards may be modified or terminated depending on the type of award, the language of the agreement or judgment, and later circumstances. The existing order should be reviewed before assuming that modification is available.
Can spouses agree on alimony without a trial?
Yes. Many alimony issues are resolved through a marital settlement agreement. The agreement should clearly state the parties’ obligations and the intended treatment of future modification or termination issues.
What financial documents may matter in an alimony case?
Depending on the issues, relevant information may include financial affidavits, tax returns, pay records, bank records, business records, benefit information, budgets, asset and liability information, and employment history.
How do I choose an alimony attorney in Citrus County?
Consider whether the attorney regularly handles Florida divorce and alimony matters, understands the financial evidence involved, explains the law and process clearly, and prepares carefully. Fichtman Law is based in Crystal River and represents clients throughout Citrus County.
More Than 20 Years of Florida Legal Experience
Steven D. Fichtman has practiced law in Florida since 2005 and has spent more than two decades representing clients in Citrus County.
Fichtman Law is located in Crystal River and represents divorce and family-law clients throughout Citrus County, including Crystal River, Inverness, Lecanto, Beverly Hills, Homosassa, Homosassa Springs, Hernando, Floral City, and surrounding communities.
Talk With a Citrus County Alimony Attorney
Whether you are seeking alimony or being asked to pay it, understanding the financial evidence and Florida’s current alimony law is an important part of making informed decisions.
Contact Fichtman Law to discuss your circumstances, the financial issues involved, and the appropriate next steps.