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Standard of living’s influence on Florida alimony payments

On Behalf of | Mar 3, 2017 | Alimony

Are you looking to maintain the same standard of living in the aftermath of your divorce? Many legal experts say that is just a pipe dream – no matter the amount of alimony, married couples still enjoy financial advantages that make it difficult to replicate standards of living after a split. As one obvious example, spouses who move to two different residences now must each pay a mortgage or rent, which poses a significant change from married life.

The fact remains that alimony allocation is often subjective, following less stringent rules than those that are generally enacted for child support. Judges in Florida must personally determine whether a couple’s assets are properly distributed, a situation that can lead to some confusion. A qualified attorney can help divorcing spouses understand the concepts of living above or below your means, which can change the way in which alimony is allocated.

Couples who are living above their means and going into debt to afford a “rich” lifestyle will not be required to continue this aggressive spending through alimony. If the hard cash and assets are not there to spend, they cannot be distributed — and credit certainly does not count. Spouses who are pushing for an elevated standard of living based on debt can be hugely problematic, necessitating dedicated intervention from your divorce attorney. Conversely, couples who have been living below their means may find themselves dividing their assets differently, with the “moneyed” spouse sometimes required to provide reimbursement alimony for the sacrifices the other has made.

Ultimately, divorcing spouses should discuss every aspect of their finances with their family law attorney to make sure they are not being cheated out of alimony they deserve — or, in other cases, paying when they do not have to. Florida law is often considered confusing or unfair for alimony judgments, which is why you need a skilled attorney to interpret regulations and promote your legal rights.