Alimony and Spousal Support Lawyers / Attorneys in Naples, Florida

A spouse requesting alimony may also have an obligation to obtain employment, even if he or she has not previously worked during the marriage. This circumstance arises in cases where one spouse was the sole source of income during the marriage. But that same spouse cannot afford to pay the expenses for two separate households, so there is a need for the spouse requesting alimony to contribute by becoming gainfully employed. This knowledge allows the alimony and spousal support lawyers at Long & Associates to effectively work with your accountant and financial advisor to successfully calculate an accurate alimony figure.

Types of Alimony

Our alimony and spousal support lawyers in Naples have assisted divorce clients in achieving all of the four types of alimony:  Bridge-The-Gap, Rehabilitative, Durational & Lump Sum 

1. Bridge the Gap is non-modifiable alimony awarded to assist a spouse to adjust to living on his or her own as a single person or parent. It may be awarded in marriages of short duration and its term cannot exceed two years.
2. Rehabilitative Alimony is support paid to a spouse so that he or she can complete his or her education or training if it was interrupted by the marriage, or obtain a degree or certification so as to assist him or her to become self-supporting. Rehabilitative alimony may also include the cost of the education or training. Under the new statute, rehabilitative alimony cannot be paid for more than five (5) years.
3. Durational Alimony is typically applied to moderate (10 to 20 years) and long (20 years or greater) term marriages. The term of durational alimony is 50% of the duration for marriages under 10 years, 60% of the marriage for those between 10 and 20 years and 75% of the duration for marriages greater than 20 years. The duration is not modifiable, except in exceptional circumstances, but the amount can be. Durational alimony cannot be awarded in a marriage of less than three (3) years.
4. Lump Sum – in certain circumstances, the Court can award lump sum alimony to be paid in one payment or payments over time.