The primary purpose of alimony is to ensure that the lower or non-wage-earning party maintains a decent living standard after the divorce. In other words, spousal support is meant to create fairness for the dependent spouse at the end of the marriage.

Unlike other aspects of the divorce, however, a number of factors come into play when determining alimony in Florida. Here are some of these factors:

The duration of the marriage

If the marriage only lasted for a couple of months, there would be very little to indicate that either party would be incapable of fending for themselves after the divorce. In this case, the court will rarely award spousal support. However, if the marriage lasted for a considerable number of years, then the court would award alimony based on the duration of the marriage.

Each party’s contribution to the marriage

There is more to spousal contribution to the marriage than just finances. Perhaps your spouse was working while you stayed at home attending to the kids and keeping the home. Each of you was contributing to the marriage partnership through your labors, and the court will certainly take this into account too when setting the alimony amount.

Each party’s earning capacity

Just because you were a stay-at-home mom does not necessarily mean that you do not have the capacity to work and earn a living. If the court establishes that you require refresher training to be able to find work and fend for yourself, it will issue a temporary alimony so you can receive the support you need to stand on your feet after the divorce.