In Florida, alimony — also called spousal support or spousal maintenance — is determined at the court's discretion after weighing the length of the marriage, each spouse's income and earning capacity, and the standard of living established during the marriage; there is no single mandatory formula. Our calculator applies common advisory benchmarks to provide a planning estimate for Florida spousal support.
Florida alimony is awarded following a divorce or legal separation when one spouse has significantly lower income or earning capacity than the other. Unlike child support, which is calculated under a mandatory statutory formula (F.S. §61.30), alimony in Florida is not determined by a single mandatory formula. Instead, Florida courts weigh a range of statutory factors to determine whether alimony is appropriate and, if so, the amount and duration most equitable given the facts of the case.
Because alimony decisions in Florida are highly fact-specific and subject to judicial discretion, the estimates provided here should be treated as a starting point for planning and negotiation, not as a prediction of what a court will actually order. Actual awards can differ substantially based on your judge, the specific facts of your case, and any negotiated agreements reached in mediation. Always consult a licensed family law attorney in Florida before making financial decisions based on any alimony estimate.
Florida's 2023 reform (SB 1416) abolished permanent alimony for cases filed after July 1, 2023. The main forms now are temporary, bridge-the-gap (max 2 years), rehabilitative (max 5 years), and durational alimony.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Formula / Method | Durational alimony amount is capped at the lesser of the recipient's reasonable need or 35% of the difference between the parties' net incomes. |
| Duration | Marriages under 3 years get NO durational alimony. Duration caps: up to 50% of marriage length (3–10 years), 60% (10–20 years), 75% (20+ years). |
| Fault | Adultery may be considered in setting amount. |
| Modification | Durational alimony amount is modifiable; its length can only be extended in exceptional circumstances. Bridge-the-gap is non-modifiable. |
| Factor | Typical Impact on Award |
|---|---|
| Length of marriage | High — marriages under 10 years rarely result in permanent alimony |
| Income and earning capacity disparity | High — primary driver of amount; larger gap = larger award |
| Standard of living during marriage | High — courts try to preserve it for the lower-earning spouse |
| Non-economic contributions (homemaking) | Moderate — compensates career sacrifices during marriage |
| Age and health of each spouse | Moderate — poor health or older age limits ability to become self-supporting |
| Marital misconduct / fault | Varies — Florida law determines whether fault is a permissible factor |
| Time to become self-supporting | Moderate — affects duration; education or training shortens it |