Which type of alimony fits your Sarasota divorce depends mostly on how long you were married and what the money needs to do. Bridge-the-gap alimony covers short-term transition costs for up to two years. Rehabilitative alimony funds a specific plan to get back to work, for up to five years. Durational alimony provides support for a set period tied to the length of the marriage.
If you're reading this, you're probably trying to figure out what the next few years will look like financially. Maybe you stepped back from a career to raise kids or support your spouse's work, and now you're wondering how you'll cover rent in Sarasota on your own. Or you're the higher earner and want to know what you could realistically be asked to pay. Either way, the uncertainty is often harder than the numbers. Our Sarasota family law attorneys start every alimony conversation by laying out how Florida's rules apply to your marriage specifically, because the answer really does change from case to case.
What happened to permanent alimony in Florida?
Florida no longer awards permanent alimony. A 2023 change to the alimony statute, section 61.08, removed it as an option for divorce petitions pending or filed on or after July 1, 2023. Today a court can award temporary, bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, or durational alimony, or a combination of them.
That matters if you've heard stories from friends or family who divorced years ago and received support for life. Those cases were decided under older rules. If you're divorcing in Sarasota or Manatee County now, the question isn't whether alimony lasts forever. It's which type applies and for how long. Our Sarasota alimony attorney page covers the basics of how courts approach the decision.
How does each type of alimony work?
Each type has a different purpose and its own limits under Florida law.
Bridge-the-gap alimony helps one spouse handle the move from married life to single life, like covering a security deposit or a few months of expenses while a home sells. It can't last more than two years, and once it's ordered, it can't be changed in amount or length. It ends if either spouse dies or the recipient remarries.
Rehabilitative alimony supports a spouse while they build or rebuild the ability to support themselves, such as finishing a degree, renewing a professional license, or completing job training. Florida caps it at five years, and the order has to include a specific, defined plan. A spouse who planned to finish a nursing program at a local college, for example, would need to show what the program is, what it costs, and when it ends.
Durational alimony provides support for a set period when the other types don't fit. It isn't available after a marriage of less than three years. The length is capped based on how long the marriage lasted, and the amount is capped too, as explained below.
Temporary alimony is a fourth type, but it only covers the time while the divorce is still pending.
How long can durational alimony last?
Florida ties durational alimony to the length of the marriage, measured from the wedding date to the date the divorce was filed. A marriage under 10 years is presumed short-term, 10 to 20 years is moderate-term, and 20 years or more is long-term. Durational alimony can last up to 50 percent of a short-term marriage, 60 percent of a moderate-term marriage, or 75 percent of a long-term marriage.
So after a 16-year marriage, durational alimony could last up to about nine and a half years. The amount generally can't exceed the lesser of the recipient's reasonable need or 35 percent of the difference between the spouses' net incomes. A court can go past the length cap only in exceptional circumstances, and the spouse asking for it has to prove those circumstances by clear and convincing evidence.
What does a judge look at before awarding alimony?
The first question is need and ability to pay. A Sarasota judge has to find that the spouse asking for alimony actually needs it and that the other spouse can afford to pay it, and the spouse asking carries the burden of proving both. If either piece is missing, there's no alimony, no matter how long the marriage lasted.
After that, the judge weighs factors like the standard of living during the marriage, each spouse's age, health, and earning ability, what each contributed to the marriage (including homemaking and child care), and the financial resources each spouse will leave with. Sarasota County divorces are heard in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit, which also covers Manatee and DeSoto counties, and judges there have to put their findings in writing.
Local income patterns can make this tricky. A lot of Sarasota-area income moves with the season, like restaurant and hospitality work that's busy from January through April and slow in summer, or commission-based real estate sales. Showing what a spouse really earns over a full year, not just a good month or a bad one, often decides what a fair number looks like. Florida law also lets a judge consider adultery and its economic impact when deciding the amount.
Can we agree on alimony without a judge deciding it?
Yes, and many couples do. Spouses can negotiate the type, amount, and length of alimony themselves and put it in a marital settlement agreement. Our attorneys are fully trained in collaborative divorce, a process where both spouses and their attorneys commit to working out terms like alimony without going to court. Our post on collaborative divorce vs. traditional litigation explains how that works for Sarasota families.
Whichever route you take, clients tell us what matters most is understanding every option before they agree to anything. Adam is often described as calm and as someone who explains choices ahead of time, and that's how we handle alimony negotiations. If you live in Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, or elsewhere in Manatee County, our Bradenton divorce attorney page explains how we work with clients there. For more background, our earlier guide to alimony and spousal support in Florida is a good companion read.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can alimony be changed after the divorce is final?
Some types can. Durational alimony can be modified in amount if there's a substantial change in circumstances, and rehabilitative alimony can change if the plan is finished or not followed. Bridge-the-gap alimony can't be modified.
Does alimony end if my ex remarries?
Bridge-the-gap alimony ends when the recipient remarries. For other types, remarriage and new supportive relationships can be grounds to end or reduce alimony, so it's worth reviewing your order with an attorney.
Do I have to pay alimony if my spouse earns less than me?
Not automatically. A court has to find both a real need and the ability to pay, and the award can't leave the paying spouse with much less net income than the recipient without exceptional circumstances.
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If you're facing a divorce and aren't sure where alimony fits, we offer a free consultation to walk through your marriage, your finances, and what Florida's rules likely mean for you. Call us at (941) 893-1555 or reach out through our contact page and we'll help you plan for what comes next.