Florida Alimony Reform Bill

Obligation to maintain medical insurance must have monetary limitation on obligation. “In his first issue on appeal, the husband argues that the trial court abused its discretion by requiring him to provide health insurance for the wife without setting any limitation as to the amount he would have to pay to comply with this requirement…Although [...]

Bridge the Gap Alimony is appropriate where a lump sum award is reasonable and the payor has the ability to pay. “This type of alimony is designed ‘to assist a spouse with any legitimate, identifiable, short-term need under circumstances where a lump sum award is reasonable and when the other spouse has the ability to [...]

An order holding a party in civil contempt must recite the facts upon which the finding of present ability to pay is based. “An order holding a party in civil contempt must recite the facts upon which the finding of present ability to pay is based. Fla. Fam. L. R.P. 12.615(d)(1)” Elliot v. Palm Beach [...]

In-kind payments from a business are treated as alimony. “Because the trial court did not include the value of the former hus band’s business income or the value of in kind payments made on his behalf when it determined the former husband’s ability to pay, we must reverse the award of alimony.” Mills v. Mills

Income that can be derived from an IRA can be utilized to determine ability to pay. “The wife challenges the trial court’s inclusion of IRA income in its determination of her ability to support herself. She contends that the court erred as a matter of law in concluding that income from her IRAs and annuities [...]