The Law Offices of Brian M. Moskowitz – Divorce Attorneys Serving South Florida

The dissolution of a marriage is a difficult and often emotionally charged process. Of all the challenges that must be addressed, the financial ones may be both the most important and the most complex. Many divorces involve an award of alimony or spousal support, which is designed to assist the economically weaker spouse in making the transition to life as a single person.

If you have questions about alimony or spousal support, the alimony attorneys at The Law Offices of Brian M. Moskowitz can help. If you feel you are paying too much or not receiving enough alimony, we can help you request a modification of an existing alimony award.  A modification is where one party asks the court to modify an existing order or judgment. 

As a divorced single parent, family law attorney Brian Moskowitz understands the issues firsthand and has a deep passion for family law. He will guide you through these difficult times while ensuring you avoid making the same mistakes he did. Whether you are the spouse who may be required to pay alimony or the spouse who may need to receive alimony, family law attorney Brian Moskowitz will work closely with you to aggressively protect your rights and help you make the best decisions possible.

Contact us today by phone at 561-369-4481 or by filling out our online form and put our experience to work for you. From our offices in Boynton Beach, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach, we provide family law services to individuals throughout the state of Florida, including the South Florida communities of Boynton Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Lake Worth, Wellington, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach and all of Palm Beach County.

An award of alimony is dependent upon the receiving spouse's need for support and the paying spouse's ability to pay. The amount and duration of an alimony award is based on a variety of factors including:

• The standard of living established during the marriage;
• The duration of the marriage;
• The age and the physical and emotional condition of each party;
• The financial resources of each party, including the non-marital and the marital assets and liabilities distributed to each;
• When applicable, the time necessary for either party to acquire sufficient education or training to enable such party to find appropriate employment;
• The contribution of each party to the marriage, including but not limited to, services rendered in homemaking, child care, education, and career building of the other party; and
• All sources of income available to either party.

Alimony can take many forms including:

• Temporary alimony – alimony paid and received during the pendency of the dissolution proceeding.
• Bridge-the-Gap alimony – alimony paid to help the recipient spouse bridge the gap from marriage to being single.
• Rehabilitative alimony - alimony paid to help the recipient spouse rehabilitate themselves in order to re-enter the workforce or obtain higher paying employment.
• Lump sum alimony -- a one-time payment of alimony, made payable in a lump sum.
• Permanent periodic alimony – ongoing payments paid until the recipient’s death, remarriage or entry into a supportive relationship.

One of the key factors as to whether an individual will receive permanent periodic alimony is the duration of their marriage.  In Florida, there is a presumption in favor of permanent periodic alimony in long term marriages, a presumption against permanent periodic alimony in short term marriages and no presumption either in favor or against permanent periodic alimony in grey-area marriages.  The definition for each of these three types of marriages varies from district to district and often changes. 

Generic definitions are as follows:

• Long Term Marriage – Can range from 14 – 17 years and up depending on the district.
• Short Term Marriage – Can extend up to 8 years depending on the district.
• Grey Area Marriage – Can range from 6 – 18 years depending on the district.

If you are concerned about how you might be affected by Florida’s alimony laws, you want an alimony lawyer that will be an advocate for you. Attorney Brian Moskowitz is that type of family lawyer. He personally meets with clients to discuss the details of their case and will help you to understand your rights under the law. He believes in doing what it takes and he won’t let anyone take advantage of you. He also offers set prices rather than hourly billing for each service provided, including modification cases.  A modification proceeding is where one party seeks to modify an existing court order or judgment. 

For skilled and knowledgeable representation regarding alimony and modification of alimony, contact the alimony lawyers at The Law Offices of Brian M. Moskowitz by calling us at 561-369-4481 or by filling out our online form. We do our very best to return your phone call the same day but at a minimum we promise to return your call within 24 hours. We serve all of Florida with a concentration in South Florida including Boynton Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Lake Worth, Wellington, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach and all of Palm Beach County.

For more specific information, click here to see the 2009 Florida statute pertaining to alimony.