During a divorce, the court may order one spouse to pay alimony or maintenance as a way of helping cover their ex’s living expenses. This maintenance aims to help minimize financial inequality between domestic partners during or after their separation. Its amount and duration may vary depending on several factors.
What factors affect alimony?
Florida courts consider many factors in deciding on a reasonable alimony amount and duration, such as:
- Duration of the marriage
- The spouses’ standard of living during the marriage
- Each party’s age and emotional condition
- Each party’s financial contribution to the marriage
- Each party’s financial resources and earning capacities
The court might also investigate specific details about each spouse, like their education.
How is education relevant to alimony?
Education often affects an individual’s employment prospects. Usually, the more educated a person is, the better their chances of finding a good job and earning a decent standard of living. If a spouse needs to reach a higher education level to become self-sufficient after the divorce, the court might award them alimony to help with tuition and other expenses.
Education might also become important in cases where a spouse supports their partner while the latter goes through school. The court might award the spouse some maintenance for their support, especially if they need to get more education to improve their own earning capacity.
Education can become important when deciding alimony, but the court will likely examine other factors as well. A divorce attorney can help spouses navigate the complexities of family law and negotiate alimony terms that work for their situation.
