Family Law · Jeff T. Gorman Law Offices

Florida Alimony & Spousal Support
The 2023 Reform Changed the Rules.
Know Where You Stand.

Florida’s SB 1416, effective July 1, 2023, eliminated permanent alimony, capped durational alimony at 50% of the marriage length, and made adultery and supportive relationships explicit statutory factors. Whether you are seeking alimony or defending against it, the 2023 reform dramatically changed the legal landscape. Joseph Grant knows the new statute and how the Treasure Coast family courts are applying it.

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Joseph Grant
Joseph Grant
Attorney at Law · FL Bar #97315
13+
Years Florida Family Law
2023
SB 1416 & HB 1301 Reform Expert
4.9★
Google Rating · 260+ Reviews
“Family law cases are some of the most important decisions of your life. You deserve an attorney who treats them that way — and is actually available when you need them.”
How Alimony Disputes Play Out Under the New Law
●The 2023 reform caps durational alimony at 50% of marriage length for marriages under 20 years — a significant reduction from prior practice in many cases
●Proving or disproving a “supportive relationship” (cohabitation) is now an explicit statutory issue that can eliminate ongoing alimony entirely
●Adultery is now an explicit statutory factor that courts must consider — in both directions — when determining alimony
●Income disputes — what each party actually earns or could earn — are as central to alimony as they are to child support
●Rehabilitative alimony requires a specific, written rehabilitation plan; without a credible plan, the award may not be granted

What the Evidence Shows —
and Where It Can Be Challenged

Alimony is one of the most contested issues in Florida divorce — and the 2023 reform made it more predictable in some respects while creating new battlegrounds in others. The elimination of permanent alimony, the durational cap, and the explicit recognition of supportive relationships all change the strategic calculus significantly. An attorney who is not current on SB 1416 and how it is being applied in Martin, St. Lucie, and Palm Beach County courts cannot give you accurate advice about your alimony position.

Joseph Grant handles both the seeking and contesting of alimony in divorce proceedings throughout the Treasure Coast. He approaches alimony disputes with a thorough financial analysis of both parties’ circumstances, a clear understanding of the new statutory framework, and the negotiating and trial skills to achieve the right outcome for his clients — whether that means securing meaningful support or significantly limiting an exposure.

⚖️ Florida Alimony Law — SB 1416 (2023)
Florida Statute §61.08, as comprehensively amended by SB 1416 (effective July 1, 2023). Types: bridge-the-gap (up to 2 years); rehabilitative (specific written plan required); durational (capped at 50% of marriage length for marriages under 20 years; up to length of marriage for 20+ years); lump-sum. Permanent alimony eliminated: no longer available except in exceptional circumstances with significant limitations. Adultery: explicit statutory factor. Supportive relationship: cohabitation or supportive relationship with another person is explicit grounds for reduction or termination. Rebuttable presumption: against alimony for marriages under 3 years. Modification (Florida Statute §61.14): substantial change in circumstances, including retirement and supportive relationship.
Florida Statute §61.08 (Alimony, as amended by SB 1416, 2023) · Florida Statute §61.14 (Modification and Enforcement)

How We Fight This Charge

Marriage Duration Analysis
The length of the marriage determines which alimony type is available and the maximum duration. We establish the record accurately, including any period of cohabitation before marriage that may be relevant.
Financial Disparity Documentation
We build the complete financial picture of both parties — income, assets, earning capacity, standard of living during the marriage — to support the appropriate alimony determination.
Supportive Relationship Investigation
When the recipient is cohabitating with a partner, we investigate and document the supportive relationship to seek reduction or termination of ongoing alimony.
Adultery Evidence
When adultery affected the marriage or the marital finances, we present this evidence as a factor in the alimony determination under SB 1416.
Rehabilitation Plan Scrutiny
When rehabilitative alimony is sought, we scrutinize the plan for specificity, feasibility, and appropriate duration — and contest vague or unrealistic plans.
Modification Petitions
When retirement, income changes, or a recipient’s new relationship changes the circumstances, we file modification or termination petitions promptly.
Notable Results
ALIMONY DENIED
Short-Term Marriage · Both Parties Employable · No Alimony Awarded
DURATIONAL CAPPED
Long-Term Marriage · 2023 Reform Applied · Duration Limited to 50% of Marriage
TERMINATED
Supportive Relationship Established · Alimony Terminated After Recipient Cohabitated

Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Case details available upon request.

Common Questions

Alimony & Spousal Support Attorney FAQ

What types of alimony exist in Florida after the 2023 reform? +
Following Florida SB 1416 (effective July 1, 2023), Florida has four types of alimony: Bridge-the-gap alimony (up to 2 years, for transition to single life); Rehabilitative alimony (with a specific, written plan for education or job skills); Durational alimony (for a set period not exceeding 50% of the length of the marriage for marriages under 20 years, and up to the length of the marriage for marriages of 20+ years); and Lump-sum alimony (a one-time payment). Permanent alimony was eliminated by SB 1416 except in cases where a party has an exceptional circumstance, with significant limitations.
How does Florida calculate alimony after the 2023 reform? +
Florida's 2023 alimony reform does not establish a fixed formula. Courts consider: the standard of living established during the marriage; the duration of the marriage; each party's financial resources and earning capacity; the contribution of each party to the marriage including homemaking and career support; all sources of income available to either party; the tax treatment of alimony; and any other relevant factor. The duration of the marriage is significant: short-term (under 7 years), moderate-term (7-17 years), and long-term (17+ years) marriages receive different presumptions.
Does adultery affect alimony in Florida after 2023? +
Yes. Florida SB 1416 explicitly makes adultery a factor that courts may consider in determining alimony. If a spouse's adultery contributed to the breakdown of the marriage or affected the financial resources of the other spouse, the court may consider this in awarding or denying alimony. Additionally, if the alimony recipient enters into a supportive relationship — cohabitation with a partner — this is now explicit statutory grounds for reduction or termination of durational alimony.
Can a Florida alimony award be modified after it is entered? +
Yes. Under Florida Statute §61.14, alimony can be modified or terminated upon a showing of a substantial change in circumstances — including a significant change in either party's income, retirement, the recipient's remarriage (automatic termination), or the recipient's supportive relationship (cohabitation with a partner). Florida's 2023 reform made supportive relationships an explicit basis for modification, removing prior judicial uncertainty about this issue.
Related Practice Areas
Divorce
Alimony is determined as part of the overall divorce proceeding and settlement.
Property Division
Property division and alimony are often negotiated together in comprehensive settlement.
Child Support
Both alimony and child support are income obligations addressed in dissolution proceedings.
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Alimony Dispute?
The 2023 Reform Changed
Everything. Know the New Rules.

Whether you are seeking alimony or defending against it, SB 1416 is the law that governs your case. Joseph Grant knows it, applies it, and litigates it in Treasure Coast family courts. Call (772) 888-8888.

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Free initial consultation does not create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Florida Bar Rules 4-7.1 through 4-7.20 apply.