Alimony is one of the most important financial aspects of a divorce settlement. Many people going through a divorce place a large emphasis on the division of assets, without realizing that an unfair alimony settlement could put them at a severe financial disadvantage.
This is why it is important to understand how the law applies to your situation, and what you can do to influence the alimony agreement. The following are some key things that you should know if you want to gain the best possible alimony settlement for yourself.
Alimony is decided after the equitable distribution of assets
In Florida, alimony is decided after all assets have been distributed. This means that if you gained a generous share of the marital assets, you may be set to receive less alimony or pay more alimony.
Coming to an agreement with your divorcing spouse could be beneficial
Divorcing spouses are permitted to decide on an amount of alimony that they believe is fair. This will need to be presented to the court before it is made a part of the court’s order. Trying to negotiate with your divorcing spouse may give you added bargaining power, and you may be able to have a higher influence.
The type of alimony matters
It is important that you ensure the type of alimony works for your situation. Some alimony is awarded in a lump-sum, whereas other types are paid over several years.
If you are going through a divorce and you want to be able to effectively influence alimony, you should be proactive in your approach so that you understand all aspects of the process.