In Florida, alimony (spousal support) is a court-ordered payment from one spouse to the other during or after a divorce. The purpose is to provide financial assistance to a spouse who is financially dependent on the other spouse. Florida law recognizes several types of alimony, and the determination is complex, based on various factors. This calculator provides an estimated amount and duration based on common formulas, but actual court awards can vary significantly.
Types of Alimony in Florida
Bridge-the-Gap Alimony: Intended to assist a spouse in transitioning from married life to a period of independence. It is typically short-term.
Supportive LinkedIn Alimony: Provides economic assistance to a spouse who is either continuing their education or training so they can acquire employment to meet their needs. This is also typically short-term.
Rehabilitative Alimony: Designed to help a spouse regain or develop financial resources to become self-supporting. It may include a plan and a fixed duration.
Durational Alimony: Awarded when economic assistance is needed for a spouse for a set period of time following a marriage of long duration.
Permanent Alimony: Awarded in marriages of long duration when one spouse shows a need and the other has the ability to pay, and it is equitable under the circumstances.
How the Calculator Works (Simplified Formulas)
Florida Statute 61.08 outlines the factors a judge must consider when awarding alimony. This calculator uses simplified, commonly applied guidelines for certain types of alimony. It is crucial to understand that judges have discretion and consider many factors beyond income and marriage duration, such as:
The standard of living established during the marriage.
The age and physical and emotional condition of each spouse.
The contribution of each spouse to the marriage (including contributions as a homemaker).
The financial resources of each spouse, including non-marital assets and liabilities.
The earning potential of each spouse.
The tax consequences of alimony.
Any other factor necessary to provide an equitable distribution of assets and liabilities.
Common Calculation Guidelines (Illustrative):
The following are simplified examples and not definitive legal formulas. Actual calculations can be much more nuanced.
Durational/Permanent (Simplified Guideline for Need/Ability): Often, courts consider awarding up to 30-35% of the difference between the parties' gross incomes, not to exceed the needs of the requesting spouse or the ability of the payor spouse to pay. For marriages of 10+ years, a common duration guideline is 1 year of alimony for every 3 years of marriage, with a maximum duration often tied to half the length of the marriage.
Bridge-the-Gap/Rehabilitative: These are often shorter-term and based on the demonstrated need to achieve a specific goal (e.g., education, job training) rather than a strict income-based formula. The duration and amount are highly fact-specific.
Disclaimer
This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Alimony laws are complex and fact-specific. You should consult with a qualified Florida family law attorney for advice regarding your specific situation. The results from this calculator are estimations and should not be relied upon as a guarantee of a court's decision.
function calculateAlimony() {
var payorIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById("payorIncome").value);
var payeeIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById("payeeIncome").value);
var marriageDurationYears = parseFloat(document.getElementById("marriageDurationYears").value);
var alimonyType = document.getElementById("alimonyType").value;
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("alimonyResult");
var durationDiv = document.getElementById("alimonyDuration");
resultDiv.textContent = "–";
durationDiv.textContent = "–";
if (isNaN(payorIncome) || isNaN(payeeIncome) || isNaN(marriageDurationYears) || marriageDurationYears payeeIncome) {
estimatedAlimonyAmount = Math.min(potentialAlimony, payeeIncome * 0.7); // Very rough cap
if (estimatedAlimonyAmount = 1 && marriageDurationYears = 3 && marriageDurationYears = 7 && marriageDurationYears = 12 && marriageDurationYears = 17 && marriageDurationYears = 25) {
estimatedDuration = "Potentially permanent or longer durational";
} else {
estimatedDuration = "Less than 1 year or as deemed equitable";
}
// For Permanent Alimony, the duration can be indefinite, but is still discretionary.
if (alimonyType === "permanent" && marriageDurationYears >= 17) { // Typically for marriages 17+ years
estimatedDuration = "Potentially permanent (subject to court review)";
} else if (alimonyType === "permanent") {
estimatedDuration = "Unlikely for shorter marriages; consult attorney";
}
} else if (alimonyType === "bridgeTheGap" || alimonyType === "rehabilitative") {
// These types are highly fact-specific and depend on the demonstrated need
// for a defined transition period or rehabilitative plan.
// A fixed formula is not typically applied.
resultDiv.textContent = "Amount & Duration Determined by Specific Needs";
estimatedDuration = "Based on rehabilitative plan or transition needs";
} else if (alimonyType === "supportiveD লিঙ্ক") { // Assuming 'supportiveD লিঙ্ক' is a typo and meant 'supportiveLinkedIn' or similar
resultDiv.textContent = "Amount & Duration Determined by Educational/Training Plan";
estimatedDuration = "Based on educational/training plan";
}
if (estimatedAlimonyAmount > 0) {
resultDiv.textContent = "$" + estimatedAlimonyAmount.toFixed(2) + " per month";
} else if (alimonyType !== "bridgeTheGap" && alimonyType !== "rehabilitative" && alimonyType !== "supportiveD লিঙ্ক") {
resultDiv.textContent = "$0.00 (or as deemed equitable)";
}
durationDiv.textContent = "Estimated Duration: " + estimatedDuration;
}