Alimony may be the one obligation in a divorce that impacts your standard of living more than any other factor. We understand these issues and can guide you through the St. Augustine Court system to protect your position. You have devoted years of your life and deserve to have your rights protected. Knowing the type of alimony that is in play can really make a difference in your case
ALIMONY
After equitable distribution, the court may consider an alimony award. The court may grant alimony to either the husband or the wife.
Rehabilitative Alimony. Rehabilitative alimony may be for a limited period of time to assist in redeveloping skills and financial independence. Parties requesting rehabilitative alimony must have a plan for their rehabilitation such as the cost of going to school to improve skills and marketability.
Bridge-the-Gap Alimony. Bridge-the-gap alimony allows a party to make the transition from married to single life which may include the need to obtain a vehicle and/or money to find a place to live.
Permanent Alimony. Permanent alimony continues until the receiving spouse’s remarriage or the death of either party.
Durational Alimony. The court can also order alimony for a certain period of time, which is called durational alimony, and usually is ordered for the same time as the duration of the marriage.
Payment of Alimony. Rehabilitative, permanent, and durational alimony generally are paid periodically (i.e., monthly or semi-monthly); bridge-the-gap alimony can be paid in a lump sum at one time, or may be paid over a very short period of time. The court may also order lump-sum alimony where one party pays to the other party a lump-sum payment of money or property.
Factors in Determining Alimony. In awarding alimony, the court considers factors such as the parties’ prior standard of living; length of the marriage; age and physical and emotional condition of both spouses; each spouse’s financial resources and income-producing capacity of the assets they receive; the time necessary to acquire sufficient education or training to find appropriate employment; and the services rendered in homemaking, child rearing, and education and career building of the other spouse. The court may consider any other factor necessary to do equity and justice between the husband and wife.
You have the right to obtain information about your spouse’s income and assets through the use of discovery procedures. Discovery includes exchange of documents and answers to written or oral questions. You have the right to take the deposition of your spouse.
At St. Johns Law Group, we understand the St. Augustine family court legal system and the rules regarding the discovery process that can make the difference in an alimony case.