Lawmakers are currently working in Tallahassee to devise an overhaul to the Florida alimony system. According to reports, the new system could resemble the way that child support is set up in the state, with new guidelines for determining alimony arrangements being based heavily on the amount each spouse earns in income.
The proposal, which was initiated by House Rules Chairman Ritch Workman, would also make the amount of alimony being paid in a divorce hinge on the length of the marriage. The new bill would also essentially abolish permanent alimony and would occasionally allow judges to go outside of the guidelines that it sets when extreme cases dictate special consideration. A provision that was scrapped from the bill, however, would have allowed judges to apply the new change retroactively .
These new rules are similar to the way that child support works in that there is a set method for determining how much is paid and by whom, yet judges are allowed to deviate if there are anomalies for which the Court should account for. Lawmakers also looked at the alimony laws in other states for inspiration when drafting this new piece of legislation.
If the plan is passed, it would be the first time in Florida history that there is a written formula for determining alimony. So far, everything seems to indicate that the plan is on its way to passing. The new plan so far has bipartisan support, and while it is still being drafted, most people on both sides of the issue seem to expect it to pass once it comes up for a vote.
If you have any questions about how these new alimony laws could affect the terms of your divorce, consult a knowledgeable Jacksonville divorce lawyer today.
Attorney Andrea Jevic contributed to this blog post.