Florida law changed on July 1, 2023.  Permanent alimony is no more.  Alimony can be durational, but it cannot exceed fifty percent of the time a short term marriage has taken place or sixty percent of the length of a moderate term marriage.  Alimony may not exceed seventy five percent of the time a long term marriage has occurred.  A short term marriage is one that has occurred for less than ten years.  A moderate term marriage is defined as a marriage that is ten to twenty years in length, and a long term marriage is one that is twenty years or longer.  Durational alimony is not available on marriages that are less than three years in length.  Durational alimony may not exceed thirty five percent of the difference between the income of the parties.  Retirement may be an event that can be used to justify a reduction in alimony.

What Types of Alimony Exist in Florida?

There are numerous similarities between Temporary Custody by Extended Family Member and Guardianship, but there are differences, as well.  Understanding the differences can be critical in deciding which one fits your situation the best.

What is Temporary Custody by Extended Family Member?

In Florida, a pickup order that is issued may be issued to secure the physical custody of a child from one party and then deliver that child to another party. Most courts disfavor pickup orders for children, as it is thought that it may be harmful for children to be exposed to this procedure.  The author believes that it can be tramatic for a child to experience the police enforcing a change of custody when it is unexpected and is apparently stressful on the parent that must give up custody.  Most judges will use this type of an order sparingly when other attempts to correct custody disputes fails.  If a pickup order is properly worded, the police/sheriff should enforce a child custody/pickup order.  The language that the author believes is essential in his experience dictates that the order shall be enforced by all sheriff’s of the state.  An order without this language or its equivalent generally will not be enforced by the police.

What is a Foreign Pick-Up Order?

A parenting plan is an all-inclusive plan that determines where a child lives, goes to school, and the child’s interaction with his or her parents.  Florida divorces and paternity cases require a parenting plan.  The parenting plan helps determine which parent will be responsible for the child, and when and how they will timeshare with the child. 

What is a Parenting Plan Based Upon?

How Does a Jacksonville Attorney Calculate Child Support?

Both parents are legally required to contribute to the support of the child. The amount is predetermined by the Florida Child Support Guidelines. Florida utilizes what is known as in “income shares model” to determine the amount of support.  Child support is calculated by adding the monthly net incomes of both parties together.  Based on the combined amount of both incomes, an amount of child support is already determined by law.  Each parent’s income may be offset by childcare fees, health insurance costs paid for the child, and timesharing (the number of overnights each parent has with the child).  So long as the child spends at least 73 nights with a parent, they will receive a child support credit for timesharing. In some situations, where a parent is paying extraordinary medical expenses or private school tuition, the court may also consider offsetting these expenses as well.

How Is Child Support Calculated?

In Florida, the amount of child support each parent must pay is predetermined by law. The Florida Child Support Guidelines determine how much child support should be awarded based on the total monthly net income of both parents. For example, if parent 1 makes $2500 a month and parent 2 makes $3500 a month in net income then the combined amount of net income is $6000. Florida child support guidelines state that for a combined net income of $6,000, the amount of child support to be paid for one child should be $1,121.00.   The monthly pre-determined child support amount may be offset by the costs of health insurance being paid for the minor child, the cost of daycare /childcare / before-after school care/fees, and timesharing or the total number of overnights each parent has with the child.  Once these amounts are calculated in, the final child support amount is determined. If the amount you are paying is too much, let your Jacksonville child support lawyer help you reduce your child support by seeking a modification of your current child support order.

Incapacity is when a person is either under the age of 18 or is unable to provide food, clothing, shelter, or unable to manage their business and financial affairs.  Guardianships are frequently created when difficulties present themselves in an individual’s life and his or her ability to deal with life’s affairs is hampered or non-existent.  A family member, or in some cases, a qualified individual can petition the court system to appoint someone to manage the incapacitated individual’s matters.

What is a Durable Power of Attorney?

Why Should I Use an Attorney?

The author believes that an attorney is essential if you are attempting to obtain a divorce.  This may sound like a self serving statement, but the author thinks there are numerous reasons that one should use an attorney to guide them through the process.  The author feels that having an attorney keeps otherwise Pro Se (self represented) clients forging ahead and not getting side tracked by discovery issues and other procedural problems regularly encountered and routinely dealt with by attorneys.

Florida Also Provides an Exception in Instances When a Child of Legal Age Has Not Yet Graduated from High School

Florida’s child support statute found at Florida Statute §61.30, also contains a provision that extends child support until the child graduates from high school, if there is a reasonable expectation of graduating before his or her 19^th birthday.  If there is no reasonable expectation that the child will graduate before their 19^th birthday, child support will terminate automatically upon the child turning 18 years old.

What is Exclusive Use and Possession?

Exclusive use and possession refers to one party receiving permission to use the home for their own purposes. Conditions are frequently provided for, as well. A frequent condition to receiving exclusive use and possession of a home is typically connected with paying the mortgage or other household bills.  This sometimes occurs initially after holding a temporary needs hearing or a domestic violence injunction hearing.  The most expedient, but not necessarily recommended way that a spouse can obtain exclusive use and possession of a home is through a domestic violence case. Using a domestic violence case to obtain exclusive use and possession should only be pursued when it involves a Petitioner that has been the victim of domestic violence. In other words, a petition for injunction should only be filed when actually necessary to stop or prevent violence. Where domestic violence is not an issue, a temporary needs hearing would be the best vehicle to obtain a temporary order to decide who stays in the home temporarily. The author has seen a number of occasions where both parties shared the home while they waited for a final hearing because neither party had a good option to leave.  This is not recommended, as it is natural for hostility to build between two partis going through a divorce.