{"id":372625,"date":"2016-03-31T21:34:57","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:34:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/florida-law\/florida-spousal-support-or-alimony-laws.html"},"modified":"2024-06-11T11:55:04","modified_gmt":"2024-06-11T16:55:04","slug":"florida-spousal-support-or-alimony-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/florida-law\/florida-spousal-support-or-alimony-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Florida Spousal Support or Alimony Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Florida Spousal Support or Alimony Laws<\/h1>\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Alimony<\/a>, or spousal support, is a court-ordered payment from one spouse to the other after divorce. It alleviates one spouse’s economic burdens and enables that spouse to become self-supporting.<\/p>\r\n

In the state of Florida, courts make alimony awards after property division. After dividing the marital estate, the court determines who must pay alimony and what amount. Either spouse can receive spousal support<\/a>. FindLaw also provides state-specific links to alimony court forms and instructions<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

Spousal Support Agreements<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Spouses may agree on alimony without going to court. If the spouses arrive at an alimony payment that suits both parties’ needs, they must present it to the court so it becomes part of the marital agreement.<\/p>\r\n

It can be difficult to enforce alimony payments if the payor spouse stops payments in the future. Enforcing an alimony payment against a spouse may require the recipient to file a claim in court, which can be expensive. According to state law, Florida alimony payments go through the State Disbursement Unit (SDU)<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

Factors in Alimony Determinations<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

During divorce proceedings, family law judges consider various factors when determining an alimony award. Florida is an equitable division state, so courts divide property separately from any support orders. A judge must first consider the payor’s ability to pay spousal support and if the payee has an actual need for assistance.<\/p>\r\n

The judge must also consider:<\/p>\r\n