Am I Guaranteed Alimony if I Marry a Rich Person in Florida?

For many approaching marriage, the concept of alimony may serve as a comforting “backup plan.” If your spouse-to-be is relatively wealthy, you might be wondering if this form of support is “guaranteed.” Is there any reason you might not receive alimony? This is a topic you might want to discuss with an experienced alimony attorney in Orlando.

Alimony Is Never Guaranteed

In Florida, no one is ever “guaranteed” access to alimony (also known as spousal support). First of all, Florida has dramatically altered its alimony laws in recent years, making this a less reliable source of financial support for spouses after divorce. Perhaps most notably, permanent alimony is now prohibited.

If you do receive alimony, you may only receive it for a few short years. After that, you are responsible for becoming financially independent and self-sustaining once again. A short marriage (less than two years) is unlikely to result in any alimony whatsoever.

Regardless of how wealthy your spouse is today, there is no guarantee that their good fortunes will continue. They may go bankrupt in the future. They could lose everything to a lawsuit or a bad investment. Their business might fail because of the rise of new technology, such as AI. The court cannot ask a spouse to pay more alimony than they can afford.

Who knows? You might become wealthier than your spouse during the marriage. If this occurs, you may have to pay your spouse alimony instead. Do not assume that the financial conditions today will continue indefinitely. Much can change over the course of a long marriage. With all that said, there are certain laws in Florida that provide clear guidelines on spousal support, and you can discuss them in more detail with a lawyer.

A Prenuptial Agreement May Provide a Sense of Financial Security

If you want a sense of financial security as you enter into the marriage, a prenuptial agreement could be the right call. With this contract, you and your fiancé(e) can agree on a predetermined financial settlement if divorce ever occurs. While this is not the same as alimony, it serves the same general purpose.

Keep in mind that your ex must agree on the terms of the prenuptial agreement. This is a completely consensual arrangement, and your ex could always say no. On the other hand, a prenuptial agreement can simplify a potential divorce for everyone, offering minimum guarantees of financial support while potentially minimizing the impact of property division for wealthier spouses.

Can an Orlando Alimony Lawyer Help Me? 

An Orlando alimony lawyer may be able to help if you’re searching for answers. While alimony is never “guaranteed,” you stand a relatively high chance of receiving support if anything ever goes wrong in your marriage, especially if your spouse is wealthy. That said, you can use a prenuptial agreement to put more effective “guarantees” in place. Contact Steve Marsee, P.A. today for more information.

Source:

 leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0000-0099/0061/Sections/0061.08.html