Solution-Focused Spousal Support/Alimony Lawyers Who Put Your Best Interests First

Last updated on January 5, 2026

Alimony is an arrangement in which one spouse makes regular payments to the other after a marriage ends. It can be sought during a divorce, and can have significant financial implications for both parties. So, it is important to take proactive steps to protect your rights when you or your ex-spouse is pursuing such financial support. Put skilled Florida alimony attorneys on your side. At Yablen Valiente, our Coral Gables legal team provides trusted and compassionate family law support and guidance informed by over 50 years of combined legal experience. We are ready to help you with alimony matters in your Miami-area divorce.

Alimony Versus Spousal Support

Another term you may hear used in place of alimony is “spousal support”. In Florida, both terms mean the same thing and you can use them interchangeably.

Alimony or spousal support is a court-ordered financial assistance one spouse pays to the other after a divorce. The Florida court system uses a legal principle called equitable distribution to divide marital assets and debts among divorced spouses. It assumes that the distribution of marital assets and liabilities should be equal. However, since items cannot be split in half, the property appraiser is called in to help value the assets and calculate the total value of each spouse’s share.

While equitable distribution is intended to be fair, it does not mean each spouse receives a 50% share. The court excludes nonmarital assets from equitable distribution, which can affect the couple’s share of the property and finances.

Under Florida law, nonmarital property includes assets one spouse owned before marriage, gifts received by one spouse, inheritances and income derived from nonmarital assets. On the other hand, property acquired during marriage, even in one spouse’s name, is usually marital.

After the distribution of the assets and debts, one spouse may be left destitute. In such cases, the court may add spousal support to the divorce agreement to address the economic imbalance that may result from the dissolution of a marriage. Courts aim to ensure that both spouses can maintain a reasonable standard of living after divorce, especially when one spouse was financially dependent on the other.

What Types Of Alimony Are There?

There are four varieties of spousal support here in Florida. They are:

• Temporary alimony: Support during the divorce process that ends once the divorce is final. It is only provided during divorce proceedings to offer short-term financial relief to the spouse with limited financial resources. Such support can include living expenses, attorney fees, insurance and educational costs.
• Bridge-the-gap alimony: Short-term support that addresses specific, identified needs related to transitioning to single life and which lasts for two years or less. It helps cover immediate needs like housing, utilities and transportation until the spouse can become self-supporting. The financial support may end earlier than the agreed date if the recipient remarries or if the death of either party occurs.
• Rehabilitative alimony: Support, lasting five years or less, that aims to help a spouse become self-sufficient. It is a temporary form of financial support aimed at helping the spouse with a lower income gain skills, education or experience to become financially self-sufficient.
• Durational alimony: Support for a set period of time, with the duration typically depending on the length of the marriage. Under Florida law, it is awarded to provide economic assistance to the spouse with less financial capability for a set period that cannot exceed the length of the marriage. The duration of the marriage is categorized as short, moderate or long. The law also states that the award can be terminated upon the death of either spouse or upon the recipient’s remarriage.

Our lawyers are ready to answer any questions you may have about these types of alimony and what situations they are a good fit for.

How To Establish Alimony

Alimony isn’t automatically granted in a divorce. It can be established either through:

• Reaching an agreement on it with your spouse and then getting court approval
• Petitioning for it from the court and the court ruling in favor of awarding spousal support

Whether you are negotiating an agreement or navigating court proceedings, our alimony attorneys can guide you toward solutions consistent with your goals.

What Factors Do Florida Courts Consider In Alimony Decisions?

To grant alimony in Florida, a court generally must find that the party seeking spousal support has a financial need and the other party has the ability to pay.

If it decides alimony is appropriate, a court will consider various factors to determine the type, amount and duration of the award. These include:

• Marital standard of living
• Marriage duration
• Age and health of both parties
• Financial resources and earning capacities
• Contributions to the marriage, such as child care and homemaking

Our team will take a tailored approach to advocating for you that is grounded in our deep understanding of these factors, how alimony is calculated and other aspects of Florida alimony laws.

Can You Modify Florida Spousal Support Orders?

The ability to modify depends on the type of alimony award. Under state law, bridge-the-gap alimony cannot be modified, and changes to the length of durational alimony are only allowed in special circumstances. Other spousal support modifications are possible if substantial circumstance changes affect the recipient’s needs or the payer’s ability to pay. If both parties agree to a modification, the court will likely approve it. Otherwise, a hearing may be necessary. Our firm is here to assist you in pursuing appropriate alimony modifications.

Get Personalized Spousal Support Guidance

Our alimony attorneys stand ready to help with your unique legal needs in your spousal support case. Arrange a confidential consultation by calling 305-476-5444 or sending us an email.