Alimony / Spousal Support

Tampa Alimony Attorney

Board-Certified Spousal Support Representation for Hillsborough County

Alimony disputes involve some of the most consequential financial decisions in a divorce. The numbers matter, and so does the attorney analyzing them. Givens Law Group brings Board Certified representation in Marital and Family Law to every Tampa alimony and spousal support matter. Stann W. Givens holds that certification from The Florida Bar and previously served as Chairman of the very committee that sets and enforces the board certification standard. That institutional depth, combined with 75+ years of collective family law experience, is what our clients bring to the table when alimony is on the line.

We represent individuals on both sides of a spousal support dispute: those seeking an award, those contesting or limiting one, and those who need an existing order modified or enforced. Cases are heard in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court family divisions in Hillsborough County, and our attorneys know those courtrooms well. Stann W. Givens has been listed in Best Lawyers in America since 1998, and the firm carries an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

Looking for a spousal support attorney in Tampa? Call (813) 328-6159 to schedule a consultation with Givens Law Group.

What Is Alimony Under Florida Law?

Alimony, also called spousal support or maintenance, is a court-ordered financial obligation from one former spouse to the other following dissolution of marriage. Its purpose is to limit the unfair economic impact of divorce on the lower-earning or financially dependent spouse and to provide both parties with an equitable financial arrangement going forward.

Florida courts begin the alimony analysis with two threshold questions: does the requesting spouse have a demonstrated need, and does the other spouse have the financial ability to pay? If both are established, the court moves to the statutory factors under Fla. Stat. 61.08. Alimony may be awarded alongside child support or property division, or independently of either. One significant change: as of July 1, 2023, Florida eliminated permanent alimony for all final judgments entered on or after that date under SB 1416.

How Florida Courts Determine Spousal Support

Spousal support isn’t awarded in every divorce. When the threshold need-and-ability analysis is satisfied, the court evaluates a range of statutory factors under Fla. Stat. 61.08 to determine whether an award is appropriate and, if so, in what amount and for how long. How that evidence is organized and presented can significantly shape the outcome.

Florida courts consider the following factors when evaluating alimony:

  • The standard of living established during the marriage
  • The financial resources of each party, including marital and non-marital assets and the liabilities distributed to each
  • The time necessary for either party to acquire education or training to find appropriate employment
  • Each spouse’s earning capacity, educational level, vocational skills, and employability
  • Contributions to the marriage, including homemaking, child care, and career-building support for the other spouse
  • The age and physical and emotional condition of each party
  • Responsibilities for minor children, including care of a child with a disability

Courts have broad discretion in weighing these factors, and outcomes depend significantly on how evidence is presented and how the assigned judge interprets the statutory criteria.

How Marriage Duration Affects Alimony in Florida

Florida law ties alimony eligibility and duration directly to the length of the marriage, measured from the date of marriage to the date the petition for dissolution is filed. The 2023 reform established three categories and capped durational alimony accordingly.

  • Short-term marriage: fewer than 10 years. Durational alimony may not exceed 50% of the marriage length and can’t be awarded at all for marriages under 3 years.
  • Moderate-term marriage: 10 to fewer than 20 years. Durational alimony may not exceed 60% of the marriage length.
  • Long-term marriage: 20 years or more. Durational alimony may not exceed 75% of the marriage length.

In exceptional circumstances supported by clear and convincing evidence, a court may extend durational alimony beyond the standard cap. Our Tampa spousal support attorneys can assess how these thresholds apply to the specific facts of your marriage.

Types of Alimony Available in Florida After the 2023 Reform

Florida law recognizes four types of alimony for petitions filed on or after July 1, 2023. Permanent alimony is no longer available. The type awarded depends on the length of the marriage, income disparity, career sacrifices, and each spouse’s earning capacity. More than one type may be awarded when circumstances warrant.

  • Bridge-the-Gap Alimony: Covers identifiable short-term transition needs such as moving costs or securing new housing. It may not exceed two years in duration and isn’t modifiable in amount or duration.
  • Rehabilitative Alimony: Supports a spouse who needs education, training, or reentry into the workforce. The recipient must present a specific rehabilitative plan, and the award is capped at five years. It may be modified if the recipient fails to comply with or completes the plan.
  • Durational Alimony: Provides support for a fixed period post-divorce, subject to the marriage-length caps described above. Under the 2023 reform, the award can’t exceed the lesser of the recipient’s reasonable financial need or 35% of the difference between the parties’ net incomes. Duration is generally not modifiable; amount may be modified on a showing of substantial change in circumstances.
  • Temporary Alimony: Awarded during the divorce proceedings themselves. It ends when the final judgment is entered and is designed to maintain financial stability while the case is pending.

If you have questions about which type of alimony applies to your situation, contact our Tampa alimony attorneys at Givens Law Group for a consultation.

Get Experienced Alimony Guidance in Tampa

Alimony Modification in Florida

Under Fla. Stat. 61.14, either party may petition to modify an alimony order when circumstances or the financial ability of either party has changed since the original order was entered. The burden falls on the petitioning party to demonstrate that change. Qualifying circumstances may include significant income loss or gain, job loss, serious medical issues, or the recipient entering a financially supportive relationship with a person not related by blood.

What Qualifies as a Substantial Change in Circumstances

The 2023 reform added an important provision for retirement: a paying spouse may file for modification based on voluntary retirement no sooner than six months before the planned retirement date. Whether the modification is granted depends on factors including the payor’s age, health, and the extent to which the retirement was foreseeable at the time of the original order.

Not all alimony types are modifiable in the same way. Bridge-the-gap alimony can’t be modified in amount or duration. Rehabilitative alimony may be modified if the recipient fails to comply with or completes the rehabilitative plan. Durational alimony can be modified in amount but not in duration except under exceptional circumstances such as sudden disability or long-term unemployment.

When a recipient enters a supportive relationship, the payor bears the initial burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence. If established, the court may reduce or terminate the award based on the evidence presented. Our firm handles post-decree modification proceedings for both payors seeking reduction and recipients seeking to preserve or increase their awards, including complex financial disclosure situations in high-net-worth cases where income and asset changes are contested.

Enforcing Alimony Orders in Florida

What If My Spouse Refuses to Pay Alimony?

When a former spouse willfully refuses to comply with a valid alimony order despite having the ability to pay, the receiving party can file a motion for contempt in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court family divisions. To succeed, the moving party must show both that the payor had the financial ability to pay and that the failure to pay was willful. Sanctions for contempt may include statutory interest on arrearages, fines, attorney fee reimbursement, and, in serious cases, incarceration.

Other enforcement tools include income withholding orders, which allow alimony to be deducted directly from the payor’s wages, and, in certain circumstances, assistance from the Florida Department of Revenue. We represent clients in enforcement proceedings and also defend paying spouses who face contempt actions when their circumstances have genuinely changed and modification, not contempt, is the appropriate path.

Our Philosophy

What Our Family Brings to The Table

  • Our family of attorneys is dedicated to our clients and believe they should all be supported like family.

  • We believe that all family law issues should be resolved in a fair and timely manner. 

  • Our firm uses our decades of experience to provide your family with the knowledge and expertise that you deserve.

Our Badges of Recognition

Why Choose Givens Law Group as Your Tampa Spousal Support Attorney

The credentials our attorneys bring to alimony representation aren’t typical of most Tampa family law firms. Stann W. Givens is Board Certified in Marital and Family Law by The Florida Bar, the highest level of attorney evaluation in this practice area. He also served as Former Chairman of the Florida Bar Board-Certification Committee for Marital and Family Law, the committee that defines and enforces that very standard. Few attorneys in Florida can point to both the credential and the institutional role behind it.

Beyond certification, the firm’s record includes recognition that matters in practice:

  • Best Lawyers in America: Stann W. Givens has been listed since 1998; Christian Givens since 2020. Stann was named Lawyer of the Year in Family Law, Tampa.
  • AV Preeminent Rated: Martindale-Hubbell’s highest peer review rating, held by the firm for decades.
  • U.S. News Best Law Firms: Givens Law Group has been named to this list.
  • Hillsborough County Bar Association Professionalism Award: Given annually to one private practice attorney, this award was presented to Stann W. Givens.
  • Family Law Inn of Tampa: Permanently renamed in honor of Stann Givens, recognizing his standing in the Tampa family law community.
  • Authorship: Stann and Christian Givens are co-authors of chapters in The Florida Bar’s books on dissolution of marriage and post-decree modifications, reflecting the firm’s role in shaping how Florida’s family law is understood and applied.
  • American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers: Stann Givens is a Former President of the Florida Chapter, one of the most selective family law organizations in the country.

Stann Givens is also a Certified Family Law Mediator, which means our firm can resolve spousal support disputes through negotiation and mediation or take a case to full trial with equal confidence. We regularly handle complex-asset and high-net-worth divorce matters where alimony intersects with business ownership, executive compensation, and investment portfolios.

If you’re looking for a spousal support lawyer in Tampa with credentials that go beyond general family law practice, we invite you to schedule a consultation.

Contact Givens Law Group at (813) 328-6159 today for a consultation on your Tampa alimony or spousal support matter.

Get in Touch

At Givens Law Group, your family is our family. As such, we promise to fight for each client and voraciously protect their best interests.
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