Florida's alimony laws changed significantly in 2023. If you're going through a divorce or revisiting an existing support order, understanding what the law now requires - and what it no longer allows - is the first step toward a fair outcome. At Butash Law Group, we represent both paying and receiving spouses in Pasco County and the surrounding region, and.
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Florida’s HB 1409, signed into law in 2023, abolished permanent alimony entirely. Every spousal support award is now time-limited. The four types of alimony available under current Florida law are:
The elimination of permanent alimony is one of the most significant shifts in Florida family law in decades. If someone has told you that you’ll be paying your ex indefinitely, that is no longer the law.
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★★★★★ Contact Butash Law Group at (813) 341-2232 to schedule a complimentary consultation where your dispute is reviewed and your legal options are explained. This no-obligation meeting helps establish whether your matter has merit and what strategy may best protect your interests.
Every alimony matter is individually assessed based on its unique facts, applicable Florida law, and the client's goals. The firm identifies fee-recovery opportunities, evaluates litigation risk, and recommends the most advantageous pathmediation, negotiated settlement, or trial.
Where appropriate, Butash Law Group pursues pre-suit negotiation or formal mediation to resolve disputes efficiently and cost-effectively before court proceedings begin. A timely mediated resolution can preserve business relationships and significantly reduce overall litigation expense.
If litigation proceeds, the firm actively manages all phases of discoveryincluding interrogatories, document requests, depositions, and subpoenasto build the strongest possible evidentiary record. Disputes over privilege, production scope, or non-party subpoenas are handled promptly to keep the case moving forward.
When settlement terms are inadequate or trial is in the client's best interest, Butash Law Group is fully prepared to argue the case before a judge or jury in Florida state or federal court. The firm pursues every available remedy to achieve the most favorable outcome possible for each client.
Butash Law Group serves alimony clients throughout Pasco, Hillsborough, Hernando and Pinellas counties, including Lutz, Wesley Chapel, Land O’ Lakes, Dade City and Tampa. Whether your dispute arises locally or involves parties across the region, the firm provides experienced, responsive representation close to home.
Butash Law Group represents Tampa Bay clients across a full range of legal matters.
Answer: Alimony, also called spousal support or maintenance, is a court-ordered financial obligation from one spouse to another during or after divorce. Under Florida Statute §61.08, courts award alimony only when one party demonstrates financial need and the other party has the ability to pay.
Florida divorce courts evaluate need and ability to pay before considering alimony amounts or duration. This two-step analysis protects both parties by ensuring support is based on genuine financial circumstances rather than arbitrary factors.
Helpful next step: If you're facing a potential alimony obligation or seeking support, schedule a consultation to evaluate your financial position. Contact us
Answer: Florida courts examine ten statutory factors including the standard of living during marriage, marriage duration, age and health of each party, financial resources, earning capacity, contributions to the marriage, child custody responsibilities, tax consequences, and investment income to calculate fair alimony awards.
The court weighs each factor against the specific facts of your case rather than applying a formula. Contributions like homemaking, childcare, and spousal education support carry equal weight with financial contributions in Florida divorce proceedings.
Helpful next step: Gather documentation of marital standard of living, income sources, and contributions to marriage to prepare for alimony discussions. Contact us
Answer: Florida Statute §61.08(1) permits courts to consider adultery and its circumstances when determining alimony amounts and awards. Infidelity may reduce, increase, or eliminate alimony obligations depending on the specific facts and the judge's discretion.
Adultery is one discretionary factor among many that judges may weigh in alimony cases. Courts apply this factor inconsistently across different judges and jurisdictions, making case outcomes unpredictable when infidelity is the primary support argument.
Helpful next step: If infidelity is relevant to your case, preserve documentation and discuss strategy with an attorney experienced in Florida family law. Contact us
Answer: Bridge-the-gap alimony provides temporary financial support for legitimate, identifiable short-term needs that arise from the transition from married to single status. This support type cannot exceed two years in duration under Florida law.
Bridge-the-gap alimony addresses specific expenses like housing deposits, vehicle purchases, or temporary living costs that one spouse cannot cover during the immediate post-divorce period. The two-year maximum ensures this support remains transitional rather than permanent.
Helpful next step: If you have post-divorce transition expenses, document them with receipts and timelines to present to your attorney. Contact us
Answer: Rehabilitative alimony assists one spouse in achieving self-sufficiency through education, training, work experience, or skill development previously possessed. The recipient must present a realistic plan demonstrating how the support will enable employment within a defined timeframe.
This alimony type requires the recipient to show concrete progress toward earning capacity. Courts expect recipients to pursue education or job training actively, and failure to follow the rehabilitation plan may result in termination regardless of the stated duration.
Helpful next step: If you're seeking rehabilitative support, develop a detailed education or training plan with timelines and cost estimates to present to the court. Contact us
Mike grew up in the Tampa Bay area and graduated from Stetson University College of Law in 1997. He was immediately hired as an Assistant State Attorney for the 6th Judicial Circuit in Pinellas and Pasco Counties, where he prosecuted everything from misdemeanors to the most serious felonies. Today he uses that insider experience to defend clients across Tampa Bay. With more than three decades of practice, lead counsel in over 40 jury trials, and thousands of cases handled, Mike brings the kind of courtroom judgment that only comes from years on both sides of the aisle.
40+ jury trials as lead counsel | 30+ years practicing | Thousands of cases
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