If you are paying alimony in the state of Florida, you may have questions about how your payments will impact your taxes.  In Florida, alimony is a tax deductible expense, which means you can claim these payments as part of your expenses.  Additionally, the spouse that receives alimony payments must list the payments on his or her taxes as part of his or her income.

This tax structure is required by law.  For this reason, neither spouse should consent to any verbiage in divorce agreements that does not comply with this tax structure.

If you pay or receive large amounts of alimony in Florida, it can definitely impact your overall taxes and financial big picture.  Should you have questions about alimony, it is a wise idea to take the time to meet with a Jacksonville family law attorney at Ellerin & Hutchinson.  To learn how we can help you, contact us today to set up your initial consultation.

After alimony has been awarded to a dependant spouse, the independent spouse will be responsible for making scheduled payments.  Depending on the court's orders, independent spouses may have to make monthly spousal support payments or periodic installment payments. 

In some states, people may also pay their alimony with one lump sum.  However, most spouses find it easier to make payments as income is earned, making lump sum alimony payments very rare.  Additionally, if independent spouses make their payment with one lump sum, the recipient may face tax consequences as spousal support is reported as income on tax returns.

Do you have additional questions about alimony or how this form of support is paid in Florida?  If so, your best option is to speak with a Jacksonville family lawyer that has experience handling alimony cases, like Ellerin & Hutchinson.  Contact our law office today to set up your initial consultation so we can answer your alimony questions.

There are several types of  alimony a judge can order during a divorce:

• Temporary Alimony is paid while the divorce is still pending.

• Permanent Alimony is paid indefinitely, unless one of the parties dies or the spouse receiving support remarries. This type of alimony is common when the parties were married for a long time.

• Rehabilitative Alimony is paid while one of the parties acquires new job skills, education or obtains employment. Once the spouse has gotten a job or becomes financially self-sufficient, the payments usually stop.

• Lump Sum Alimony is paid just once.  Lump sum alimony is common in highly contentious divorce cases or if one of the spouses has a terminal illness.

• Bridge-the-Gap Alimony is designed to help one of the spouses until they are able to get back on their feet and financially support themselves.  This type of alimony is usually paid for two years.

How Alimony is Determined

Judges do not have a specific formula for determining alimony.  Instead, they take a number of factors into consideration, including, but not limited to:

• The duration of the marriage
• The standard of living the couple shared during the marriage
• Each spouse’s current level of income
• If one spouse stayed home to raise children
• If one spouse worked while the other pursued higher education or a professional license
• If child support is also being paid

There is no specific formula that is used to determine alimony. If the parties can reach an alimony arrangement on their own, the court will most likely agree to uphold the arrangement.  However, when the courts get involved, there are several factors that will be taken into consideration when determining alimony, such as:

• The duration of the marriage
• Each spouse’s financial contributions to the marriage
• Each spouse’s non-economic contributions to the marriage
• Each spouse’s current income and financial resources
• Whether one of the spouses stayed home to raise children
• Whether one of the spouses worked while the other pursued higher education, a technical degree, or a trade skill
• The standard of living the couple shared during their marriage
• How property was divided
• Each spouse’s age and health

Contact a Jacksonville Spousal Support Attorney

If you are considering filing for divorce in Jacksonville, it is important to hire an experienced attorney to represent you throughout the divorce process and make sure your rights and best interests are protected at all times. Whether you are seeking alimony, or your ex-wife or husband is seeking alimony from you, you can trust Jacksonville divorce lawyer Scott Ellerin to uphold your rights under Florida family law, and help to resolve your case in a way that protects your financial interests.

To schedule a consultation with Mr. Ellerin, please fill out an online case evaluation or click here to  contact the office today!