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Termination of Florida alimony

Application of Florida Statutes to a request to modify alimony

Application of Florida Statutes to a request to modify alimony

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Alimony

When a modification of Florida alimony is sought, there are different considerations from those applied when alimony is originally ordered. Establishment of alimony is governed by Florida Statute 61.08 which modification of alimony is governed by Florida Statute 61.14. This was an issue in the case Beans v. Beans, 1D2021-3358 (Fla. 1st DCA September 18, 2024).

Florida enforcement of alimony ordered in another state

Florida enforcement of alimony ordered in another state

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Alimony

When a party wants to enforce an alimony judgment that was entered in another state, does Florida law apply to the matter or the law of the state where the alimony was established? In the case Lavinder v. Bryson, 1D2023-2022 (Fla. 1st DCA August 21, 2024), the trial court applied Alabama law in resolving a dispute between former spouses over alimony payments.

Suspension of a Florida alimony obligation due to short-term disability

Suspension of a Florida alimony obligation due to short-term disability

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Alimony

What does it mean to suspend or abate a Florida alimony obligation? This means the payor is experiencing temporary hardship that affects his or her ability to pay such as the loss of employment or temporary disability. This issue must be properly brought before the court to be considered. This was an issue in the case Pappas v. Pappas, 2D22-1791 (Fla. 2d DCA February 23, 2024).

Offsetting Florida alimony arrears with Florida child support arrears

Offsetting Florida alimony arrears with Florida child support arrears

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Alimony

Terminating alimony in Florida usually requires the filing of a petition for modification or termination. Many times, a hearing is not held for several months or more than a year after the date the petition is filed. If the court decides alimony should be modified or terminated, it will consider retroactive termination. Does the fact that the other parent owes child support arrears affect any alimony amount owed? These were issues in the case Suarez v. Suarez, 4D2022-0359 (Fla. 4th DCA November 1, 2023).

Termination of Florida alimony due to cohabitation

Termination of Florida alimony due to cohabitation

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Alimony

When a former spouse who is ordered to pay alimony suspects that the other former spouse is cohabitating, this may be grounds to modify Florida alimony. A four-step analysis is required by the court in determining if alimony should be reduced or terminated on this ground. This was an issue in the case Spector v. Spector, 3D22-1400 (Fla. 3d DCA October 11, 2023).

Florida alimony: Analyzing the existence of a supportive relationship

Florida alimony: Analyzing the existence of a supportive relationship

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Alimony

What is considered a supportive relationship in Florida for purposes of modifying or terminating alimony? In a recent appellate opinion, the court reviewed the trial court’s denial of a request to modify or terminate alimony in light of the petitioner’s allegations that the former wife was living in a jointly-owned home with her boyfriend of 14 years. The case is Proveaux v. Proveaux, 1D21-3410 (Fla. 1st DCA March 29, 2023).

Florida alimony: Relevant discovery in a contempt proceeding

Florida alimony: Relevant discovery in a contempt proceeding

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Alimony

What type of discovery is relevant in a proceeding concerning contempt of an alimony obligation? Generally documents showing the financial standing of the party ordered to pay support are relevant to the issue of whether or not the payor had the ability to pay support during the period of non-payment. Relevance of discovery was an issue in the case Schultz v. Schultz, 3D21-1231 (Fla. 3d DCA July 21, 2021).

Modification of Florida alimony based on a supportive relationship

Modification of Florida alimony based on a supportive relationship

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Alimony

If a party who is receiving alimony re-marries or is in a supportive relationship, depending on the terms of a final judgment or settlement agreement, that party may be at risk of losing his or her alimony payments. This is because the party’s new partner is providing financial support to the party that reduces or eliminates the party’s need for alimony. This was an issue in the case Klokow v. Klokow, 5D19-2766 (Fla. 5th DCA July 2, 2021).

Florida alimony modification reversed for failure to allow testimony

Florida alimony modification reversed for failure to allow testimony

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Alimony

The right to call and cross examine witnesses is fundamental to due process in a Florida family law proceeding. When a former husband was prohibited by the court from cross-examining the former wife, he appealed the order concerning his request to modify alimony payments in Benedict v. Benedict, 4D19-3266 (Fla. 4th DCA May 6, 2020).

Terminating Florida alimony under summary judgment

Terminating Florida alimony under summary judgment

Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Alimony

When is summary judgment appropriate in a Florida family law case? Such a procedure is used when there is no issue of material fact for the court to decide. That is, it is undisputed that a party is entitled to relief without the need for a trial or the normal steps of litigation. In the case Bradner v. Bradner, 1D18-4604 (Fla. 1st DCA December 27, 2019), we see summary judgment used to terminate Florida alimony.