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400 N Ashley Dr, Ste 2600-2658, Tampa, FL 33602
Tampa Alimony Lawyer
Alimony representation in Tampa by Attorney Azhar Cheema.
Alimony Legal Help for Tampa Spouses
Alimony disputes often involve two different financial positions. One spouse may need support after the marriage ends, while the other may question whether support is necessary, affordable, or based on accurate income.
Azhar Cheema assists spouses with temporary, bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, and durational alimony, as well as disputes involving business income, earning capacity, financial disclosure, amount, and duration.
The first step is determining whether the finances support an alimony claim and, if so, what type of support should be considered.
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Talk With a Tampa Alimony Lawyer
Azhar Cheema represents spouses seeking or opposing alimony involving financial need, ability to pay, disputed income, business earnings, temporary support, and durational alimony.
Does One Spouse Need Alimony and Can the Other Spouse Pay?
NEED AND ABILITY TO PAY
An income difference between spouses does not automatically result in alimony. Florida courts first consider whether the spouse requesting support has an actual financial need and whether the other spouse has the ability to pay.
The requesting spouse’s income, assets, reasonable post-divorce expenses, earning capacity, and other financial resources may be relevant. The paying spouse’s income, resources, expenses, and overall ability to meet a support obligation must also be considered.
Is Permanent Alimony Still Available in Florida?
CURRENT FLORIDA ALIMONY LAW
Florida no longer allows new awards of permanent alimony under the current alimony statute.
Current law instead recognizes temporary, bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, and durational alimony. The appropriate form depends on the marriage and the financial circumstances of both spouses.
Older alimony orders entered under prior law can raise different issues if a former spouse later seeks modification or termination.
Cheema Law, P.A.
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400 N Ashley Dr Ste 2600-2658, Tampa, FL 33602
Common Questions About Alimony in Tampa
Is Permanent Alimony Still Available in Florida?
No. Florida no longer allows new awards of permanent alimony under the current statute. Available forms include temporary, bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, and durational alimony.
How Is Alimony Calculated in Florida?
Florida does not use one universal formula for every alimony case. The court first considers the requesting spouse’s need and the other spouse’s ability to pay, then evaluates income, financial resources, earning capacity, marriage length, health, and post-divorce needs.
How Long Can Alimony Last in Florida?
The duration depends on the type of alimony and the length of the marriage. Durational alimony is subject to statutory limits based on whether the marriage is short-term, moderate-term, or long-term.
Can I Get Alimony While My Divorce Is Pending?
Possibly. Temporary alimony may be requested while the divorce is pending when one spouse has a current financial need and the other has the ability to pay.
Can Alimony Change After Divorce?
Some alimony awards may be modified when qualifying circumstances change. The rules depend on the type of alimony, the existing judgment, and the reason for the requested change.
Types of Alimony Available in Florida
Temporary Alimony
Support may be ordered while a divorce is pending when one spouse has a current financial need and the other has the ability to pay.
Bridge-the-Gap Alimony
Short-term support for identifiable needs associated with transitioning from married to single life. Bridge-the-gap alimony may not exceed two years.
Rehabilitative Alimony
Support designed to help a spouse become more self-supporting through a specific education, training, credential, or employment plan. It may not exceed five years.
Durational Alimony
Support for a defined period after divorce. The available duration and amount are subject to current Florida statutory limits.
How the Length of Your Marriage Affects Alimony
Marriage length can affect whether durational alimony is available and how long it may continue.
A short-term marriage is generally less than 10 years. A moderate-term marriage is 10 years or more but less than 20 years. A long-term marriage is 20 years or longer.
For alimony purposes, marriage length is generally measured from the date of marriage to the date the divorce action is filed.
Marriage length is important, but need, ability to pay, earning capacity, health, resources, and other circumstances must also be considered.
How a Tampa Alimony Case Moves Forward
The process depends on whether alimony is being requested, opposed, negotiated, or addressed as part of an ongoing divorce.
01 — Identify the Alimony Claim
Determine whether the issue involves temporary, bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, or durational alimony and what amount or duration is being requested.
02 — Review Need and Ability to Pay
Analyze the requesting spouse's financial need and the other spouse's income, resources, expenses, and ability to pay.
03 — Gather Financial Records
Review financial affidavits, tax returns, pay information, business records, assets, retirement accounts, expenses, and other relevant financial information.
04 — Determine the Appropriate Type, Amount and Duration
Apply marriage length, financial circumstances, earning capacity, statutory limits, and other relevant factors to the proposed support arrangement.
05 — Negotiate or Prepare for a Hearing
Attempt to resolve alimony through negotiation or mediation. If the issue remains disputed, prepare the financial evidence and legal arguments for an evidentiary hearing.
What Florida Courts Consider When Deciding Alimony
After need and ability to pay are established, the court considers additional factors when deciding the appropriate form, amount, and duration of support.
Length of the Marriage
The duration of the marriage can affect the available type and possible length of alimony.
Income and Financial Resources
Income, assets, liabilities, and income generated from marital or nonmarital property may affect need and ability to pay.
Earning Capacity and Employability
Education, vocational skills, work history, employability, and the ability to obtain training needed for self-support may be relevant.
Post-Divorce Financial Needs
The marital standard of living may be considered together with each spouse's anticipated needs and necessities after divorce.
Age and Health
Physical, mental, and emotional conditions may affect a spouse's earning ability, financial need, or ability to pay support.
Contributions and Family Responsibilities
Homemaking, childcare, education, career contributions, and responsibilities involving minor children may affect the court's analysis.
How Long Can Durational Alimony Last in Florida?
Florida places specific limits on the duration of durational alimony.
For a short-term marriage, durational alimony generally may not exceed 50% of the length of the marriage. For a moderate-term marriage, the general limit is 60%. For a long-term marriage, the general limit is 75%.
Durational alimony generally cannot be awarded after a marriage lasting less than three years.
The exact duration still depends on the circumstances of the case and the requirements of Florida law.
How Is the Amount of Durational Alimony Calculated?
Florida does not use one universal formula for every alimony award.
For durational alimony, the amount is limited to the receiving spouse’s reasonable need or an amount not exceeding 35% of the difference between the spouses’ net incomes, whichever is less.
A spouse does not automatically receive 35% of the income difference. Need, ability to pay, income, deductions, expenses, and other relevant financial circumstances still have to be evaluated.
Business and Disputed Income in an Alimony Case
Business ownership or self-employment can make alimony more complicated because income may not appear as a consistent paycheck.
Relevant records may include personal and business tax returns, profit-and-loss statements, payroll, bank records, owner distributions, bonuses, investment income, and expenses paid through a business.
When reported income is disputed, financial disclosure and discovery may be used to compare the figures provided with the available records and determine the income and resources relevant to alimony.
Earning Capacity and Rehabilitative Alimony
A spouse’s current income is not always the only consideration. Education, vocational skills, employment history, employability, health, childcare responsibilities, and the realistic ability to become more self-supporting may also matter.
A spouse who spent years caring for children or managing the household may have a different earning position from someone who can readily return to an established career.
When rehabilitative alimony is requested, a specific plan for education, training, credentials, or work experience is generally required. The plan should identify how the proposed rehabilitation is expected to improve earning capacity.
Financial Records That May Matter in an Alimony Case
Alimony claims depend heavily on accurate financial information from both spouses.
Relevant records may include financial affidavits, tax returns, W-2s, 1099s, pay statements, business records, bank and investment statements, retirement records, monthly expense information, and documents showing other income sources.
Employment history, education, professional qualifications, and evidence of earning capacity may also become important when a spouse’s ability to become self-supporting is disputed.
Azhar Cheema can identify which financial records are relevant and organize the evidence needed for negotiation, mediation, or a contested hearing.
When an Existing Alimony Award May Change or End
Modification
Some alimony orders may be modified after a substantial financial change, but the rules depend on the type of alimony and the existing judgment.
Remarriage
Remarriage can terminate certain ongoing alimony obligations. The result depends on the type of support and the existing order.
Supportive Relationship
A qualifying financially supportive relationship may provide grounds to seek a reduction or termination of an existing alimony obligation.
Retirement
Reasonable retirement may support a request to reduce or terminate alimony after considering income, assets, age, health, retirement benefits, and continuing need.
Why Work With Attorney Azhar Cheema on an Alimony Matter?
Review of Need and Ability to Pay
Evaluate each spouse's income, expenses, assets, liabilities, and post-divorce financial position to identify the issues affecting the alimony claim.
Preparation for Disputed Income
Review tax returns, business records, compensation, financial affidavits, and other evidence when income or available resources are contested.
Negotiation and Mediation
Evaluate proposed alimony terms and negotiate the type, amount, duration, and structure of support when settlement is possible.
Prepared for Alimony Hearings
Azhar Cheema's family law experience includes discovery, depositions, mediation, evidentiary hearings, and trials.
Related Family Law Services in Tampa
Modifications
Legal assistance when a former spouse seeks to modify or terminate a qualifying alimony or other family court order because circumstances have materially changed.
Speak With a Tampa Alimony Lawyer.
Azhar Cheema represents spouses seeking or opposing alimony involving financial need, disputed income, business earnings, temporary support, rehabilitative or durational alimony, earning capacity, and post-divorce support issues.
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Cheema Law, P.A. is a Tampa, Florida family law firm providing legal services for divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support, paternity, and other family law matters.
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