Big Changes to Alimony in Florida as Lawmakers Approve Bill

There is a lot of buzz circling SB 1796, a bill that was passed by lawmakers that makes massive changes to alimony laws. The bill is important as it completely changes alimony. It is important to note that the bill has not yet become law. The biggest change to alimony is that it will do away with permanent alimony. By eliminating permanent alimony, the bill focuses on bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, and durational alimony. The bill would limit rehabilitative alimony to five years and prohibit any award of durational alimony for marriages shorter than three years. The goal of the legislature is to create a route to retirement. The measure awards durational alimony for half the length of a marriage that lasts between three (3) and ten (10) years, 60% of the length of marriages of between ten (10) and twenty (20) years, and 75% of marriages that lasted over twenty (20) years of more. Durational alimony payments would be limited to the recipients “reasonable needs,” or 34% of the difference in incomes, whichever is less. Lastly, as to alimony, the bill creates a “wind down” period that would, in certain cases, permit a spouse that is retiring after providing formal notice, to reduce alimony payment by 25% per year over four years. The bill is headed to the Governor for review. Please check back with us for updates regarding this bill, and if it becomes law.