Alimony in divorce can be difficult, but it does not have to be disheartening
Deciding alimony in divorce can be difficult, but it does not have to be disheartening! Our Fort Lauderdale alimony attorneys settle where we can and fight when we must – we want to help you start (and afford) your happily ever after post-divorce life without a toxic battle.
Years of Attorney Experience
Lives Changed
5-Star Google reviews
Locations in Florida
Schedule Your Free Case Evaluation
Navigate Your Divorce with Confidence
There is a better way to resolve alimony issues! Going to court can turn any divorce into a huge, expensive, public, drawn-out battle. While sometimes it is necessary for a judge to make the final decision, alimony is one of those things in divorce that is best resolved through processes like mediation or attorney negotiation. If you and your spouse can be reasonably agreeable, you can save time, money, and stress!
Because not getting paid the amount of alimony you deserve or paying more alimony than is fair to your spouse can affect your financial stability, it is smart to have attorney guidance even if you do not plan on going to court. Our bilingual Fort Lauderdale alimony attorneys are here to help you protect your interests and your future.
Florida enacted a statutory calculation for alimony in 2023. However, the number produced is the high end of a spectrum, and the court has tremendous discretion on the amount to award up to the calculated amount based upon certain factors and considerations, including the economic impact of adultery. These factors include:
How long a judge will set alimony for depends on what type of alimony is being sought or awarded. As of July 2023, when new Florida alimony laws went into effect, there are 4 types of alimony that could be set:
Bridge-the-gap alimony, where one spouse pays temporary alimony to the other spouse to help them transition to life as a single person – this does not last longer than 2 years and can end earlier based on the judge’s discretion or if the receiving spouse remarries.
Rehabilitative alimony, where one spouse pays temporary alimony to the other spouse in order to help them become financially independent, gaining the education or skills they need to enter or re-enter the workforce – this does not last longer than 5 years, but a plan for how they will use the alimony is required.
Durational alimony, where one spouse pays alimony to the other spouse based on the length of the marriage, so long as the marriage was over 3 years long – for a marriage shorter than 10 years, alimony will not be paid for a time exceeding 50% of the length of the marriage; for a marriage between 10 and 20 years, alimony will not be paid for a time exceeding 60% of the length of the marriage; for marriages longer than 20 years, alimony will not be paid for a time exceeding 75% of the length of the marriage.
Lump sum alimony, where one spouse pays the other a single payment or transfers an asset that is included in the divorce settlement.
Because judges have discretion when awarding alimony, our Fort Lauderdale alimony attorneys recommend that you try mediation in order to keep your case out of court and give you the most control over how alimony is set.
Mediation is when you and your spouse work with an unbiased third party who will use non-adversarial conflict resolution tools to facilitate a compromise when it comes to alimony, or other issues related to your divorce. Mediation is typically much more affordable and much less stressful than going to court, but again, the primary benefit is that you and your spouse work with the mediator to agree on alimony rather than a judge telling you what alimony will be.
Our attorneys can serve as the neutral mediator or we can represent you in mediation to give you legal advice and help protect you from a bad deal.
Mediation is not effective in every situation, though. If mediation is unsuccessful, or if you are dealing with an abusive spouse, then our attorneys are prepared to make a persuasive case for your desired amount or against excessive alimony in court. We have extensive knowledge of Florida’s divorce and alimony laws, and we can give you an advantage.
Do not let alimony turn your divorce into war. Seek happiness! Call Divorce & Mediation Law Firm l Cabanas Law Firm at 954-466-9461 today to request your Free 15-Minute Case Evaluation. Our firm’s approach focuses on efficiency and speed to get your life back to normal sooner, even in difficult situations. We know your life is unique, and we treat you and your case with the dedicated attention you deserve! Contact us to get started.
What Our Clients Think of Cabanas Law Firm
Would recommend this firm to friends. I engaged them to handle making an adjustment to my divorce settlement agreement. As it was likely to cost less than the retainer in this case, they kindly agreed to refund any remaining money. They handled everything perfectly and professionally, and I’ve just received a check with the remaining funds. Thank you Cabanas
Mauricio Cubas
My experience with Cabanas Law Firm was outstanding, thanks to Erick Estrada, the case manager, and Attorney Sergio Cabanas. Erick was incredibly supportive, keeping me informed and making sure every step of the process was smooth and stress-free. His professionalism and dedication truly set him apart. Attorney Sergio Cabanas provided expert legal guidance, ensuring the best possible outcome for my case. I highly recommend their team for anyone seeking reliable and compassionate legal assistance.
Cabanas Law Firm is amazing! The whole team is super professional and really cares about their clients. A big shoutout to Nichol, the paralegal, for being so helpful and responsive. She went above and beyond to answer my questions and provide guidance. If you need a great law firm, this is the one to go with.
I would highly recommend attorney Sergio Cabanas to anyone going through a divorce. In fact, I’ve already referred some of my friends. His knowledge of family law was evident from the get-go and it helped me to feel confident and protected when making decisions. His communication skills are outstanding. Sergio Cabanas and his team were very responsive, they answered all of my questions and provided updates. They are true professionals.
Practice areas
Divorce
Divorce
High NetWorth Divorce
High Net Worth Divorce
Divorce Mediation
Divorce Mediation
Alimony
Alimony
Family Law
Family Law
Your family's future shouldn't wait for We're changing how Florida does family law.
Child Custody/ Timesharing
Child Custody/ Timesharing
ChildSupport
ChildSupport
Asset & Debt Division
Asset & Debt Division
Simplified & Uncontested Divorce
Simplified & Uncontested Divorce
DomesticViolence
DomesticViolence
Lightning Speed Isn't Optional – It's Everything
Status Updates
3 Powerful Steps to Secure Your Future
As a Florida divorce attorney we know your case is different—that’s why we guide you every step, from the first call to the courthouse, staying dedicated to helping individuals and families retain stability.
Step 1
Deep‑Dive Discovery
First‑Strike Strategy
Your Life on Your Terms
Sergio Cabanas, Esq.
Laura J. Grossman, Esq.
Yolanda Fox, Esq.
Matthew Person, Esq.
Eudinio Perez, Esq.
At Cabanas Law Firm, we pride ourselves in treating each client as an individual, carefully planning for their particular needs and delivering effective legal services to serve their specific legal goals.
Advantages Of Mediation In Weston, Fl
Mediation offers several advantages over litigation. First, you can reduce your costs when engaging in mediation. Also, mediation often allows people to settle matters faster than in court. Moreover, mediation is less formal and more productive, meaning you are less likely to experience the stress associated with litigation.
Finally, mediation is private and non-adversarial, allowing you to iron out differences away from the public eye. In doing so, you can set aside your differences and improve your relationship with the other party. As a result, you can become more effective co-parents through mediation.
These are some of the numerous advantages of mediation. Learn more by consulting with a mediation attorney at our firm.
Our mediation attorneys can help you resolve matters related to divorce, post-divorce orders, and child support. While these matters are different, the mediation process is generally the same. The mediator will go over the facts, identify areas of agreement and disagreement, and discuss your wants, needs, and goals. Then the mediator can use negotiation strategies to help you reach an agreement.
You can choose to mediate these issues with or without a personal attorney present. If you go to mediation without a personal attorney, the mediator cannot offer legal advice. On the other hand, a personal attorney will look out for your interests during mediation and raise issues you might feel uncomfortable bringing up on your own.
Many people have success going through mediation with and without personal attorneys present. Learn more about both options by contacting our firm. Our mediation attorneys can serve as your representative or a third-party mediator, so feel free to discuss both options during the consultation.
What If You Do Not Reach An Agreement?
If you are not successful during mediation, you will need to go to court to litigate the matter. Then the judge will determine the settlement. However, you will only need to litigate the matters not decided during mediation. For instance, assume you agree on child support. Then the mediator submits the agreement to the court, and the judge signs off on it, making it a legally enforceable order. However, you cannot decide how to divide the property. In this instance, the judge will render a decision regarding your property, but not child support.
Mediating Post-divorce Modifications In Weston, Fl
If you fail to comply with a court-approved order, you can be held in contempt of court, leading to severe consequences. However, you might not be able to uphold the order based on a significant change of circumstances. A mediation attorney can help you reach an agreement to modify orders for child support, alimony, and other matters. Reach out to our firm today to determine if your change in circumstances requires a modification. If so, we can discuss mediation and other strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions About Alimony
This is a common question we get from parents who are really worried about being able to pay what the court is ordering, but rest assured that the court will take this into account when determining alimony (as well as other factors like your income) in order to avoid putting an excessive financial burden on you.
However, child support and alimony are different payments that serve different purposes. Child support is designed to financially provide for your children, while alimony supports a spouse that may need assistance to maintain their standard of living. You very well may be required to pay both. However, every case is different. Consult with our Fort Lauderdale alimony attorneys in order to learn about what to expect!
Unless you waived the right in your divorce settlement, Florida law allows either spouse to seek a modification to alimony if they have a significant change in circumstances – maybe they lose their job, suffer a medical emergency, remarry, etc. In such situations, the court can increase, decrease, or end alimony with approval from a judge. Sometimes requesting a modification can be a complex process, so reach out to our firm for sound legal guidance!
There are several reasons why a spouse may not be eligible to receive alimony. If you signed a prenuptial agreement that waived alimony, hid or lied about assets during the divorce process, spent marital funds on adultery, or are not able to demonstrate a lack of financial need, you may not be able to receive alimony. Our attorneys can help you determine if this is the case and what options are available to you.
We understand you may be feeling confused, overwhelmed, angry, sad (or all of the above), and that you may be unsure of your next steps. Our firm can help you move forward with confidence.
Request your Free 15-Minute Case Evaluation!
Schedule Your Free Case Evaluation
Site Map
Office Locations
Pembroke Pines
18503 Pines Blvd, Suite 301, Pembroke Pines, FL 33029
Get Directions
Fort Lauderdale
550 S Andrews Ave, Suite 510, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Get Directions
Weston
2893 Executive Park Dr, Suite 125, Weston, FL 33331
Get Directions
Aventura
2875 NE 191st St, Suite 526, Aventura, FL 33180
Get Directions
Doral
3470 NW 82nd Ave, Suite 680, Doral, FL 33122
Get Directions
Kendall Office
9100 S Dadeland Blvd, Suite 1532, Miami, FL 33156
Get Directions
Brickell / Miami Office
1221 Brickell Ave, Suite 900, Miami, FL 33131
Get Directions
Palm Beach Gardens
3801 PGA Blvd, Suite 600, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
Get Directions
© Copyright 2025. Divorce Lawyers | Cabanas Law Firm. All Rights Reserved.
The information and materials on this website are provided for general informational purposes only and are not intended to be legal advice. We attempt to provide quality information, but the law changes frequently and varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. The information and materials provided are general in nature and may not apply to a specific factual or legal circumstance. An attorney-client relationship should not be implied. Nothing on this website is intended to substitute for the advice of an attorney; therefore, if you require legal advice, please consult a competent attorney licensed to practice in your jurisdiction.