Alimony in a divorce is typically awarded if one spouse has the need for alimony and the other spouse is indeed able to pay the alimony. To determine alimony, a court will examine how long the marriage lasted. A seven-year marriage is considered a short-term marriage, while a moderate term marriage is one that lasts from seven to seventeen years. Anything beyond seventeen years is a long-term marriage.

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When alimony is granted it may fall under a variety of categories, including permanent, rehabilitative, and a lump sum, to name a few. Temporary alimony, for example, may be awarded regardless of how long the marriage lasted and is usually awarded from the moment the couple or spouse files for divorce until the divorce terms have been settled. A prenuptial agreement cannot waive temporary alimony.

It is not uncommon for a spouse to gift his or her family members a significant amount of money. Can these gifts be held against the spouse who gave the money away should the couple end up divorcing? What about gifts involving money that was received from family members? Are these funds able to be used to determine whether a spouse is eligible for alimony? These are questions you may wish to ask your divorce lawyer.

This update is by Miami family law firm Rafool, LLC. We have a strong reputation throughout Florida and we have numerous years of experience representing clients involved in complex divorce cases as well as other family law matters. Should you have any domestic or family issue, we are here to assist you by providing educated advice and skilled, professional advocacy. Call 305-567-9400 to speak with one of our Miami divorce lawyers.

This information is provided for educational or informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. The information is not provided in the course of an attorney-client relationship and is not intended to substitute for legal advice.