Florida Alimony Reform TimeLine:
2013
A bill passed by both the House and Senate was vetoed by Governor Rick Scott (retroactivity issue).
2014
During an election year no alimony reform was legislation was proposed.
2015
Bills with guidelines regarding ranges for duration and amounts were proposed in both the House and Senate. The bills were held up when the House and Senate were unable to negotiate the state budget. The Florida Alimony Reform legislative session was thus ended and alimony reform was shelved for the remainder of the year.
2016
Bills similar to those proposed in 2015 were introduced. These bills decided that 50/50 timesharing of children would be presumed in every divorce. This provision would also be included in the alimony reform statute. The bill was was vetoed.
2017
Senate Bill 412 is proposed and awaits its first committee hearing. It is believed that the current SB 412 should not warrant another veto by the governor for reasons that it does not include any provisions for retroactivity and child-sharing. The bill is reflective of changing social and demographic patterns. It defines changes of circumstances to allow modifications, takes in consideration the financial abilities for those who pay and who receive alimony.
3.31.2017: The proposal is dead for this year’s legislative session. Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Chairman Rene Garcia said he won’t schedule the bill for a hearing. Source
Florida Alimony Reform TimeLine:
2013
A bill passed by both the House and Senate was vetoed by Governor Rick Scott (retroactivity issue).
2014
During an election year no alimony reform was legislation was proposed.
2015
Bills with guidelines regarding ranges for duration and amounts were proposed in both the House and Senate. The bills were held up when the House and Senate were unable to negotiate the state budget. The Florida Alimony Reform legislative session was thus ended and alimony reform was shelved for the remainder of the year.
2016
Bills similar to those proposed in 2015 were introduced. These bills decided that 50/50 timesharing of children would be presumed in every divorce. This provision would also be included in the alimony reform statute. The bill was was vetoed.
2017
Senate Bill 412 is proposed and awaits its first committee hearing. It is believed that the current SB 412 should not warrant another veto by the governor for reasons that it does not include any provisions for retroactivity and child-sharing. The bill is reflective of changing social and demographic patterns. It defines changes of circumstances to allow modifications, takes in consideration the financial abilities for those who pay and who receive alimony.
3.31.2017: The proposal is dead for this year’s legislative session. Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Chairman Rene Garcia said he won’t schedule the bill for a hearing. Source
1.17.2020 The House Alimony Reform Bill Now Has a Senate Companion: House Republicans Robert “Alex” Andrade, Spencer Roach and Anthony Sabatini introduced HB 843, in another attempt to reform alimony laws in Florida. On January 13th, Senator Kelli Stargel joined fellow Republicans by introducing her own version of the alimony reform bill, SB 1832.
Lawmakers want to eliminate permanent alimony and allow the obligor, person obligated to pay alimony, to retire and not be subject to garnishment from their retirement funds. It prioritizes the use of bridge-the-gap and rehabilitative alimony and limits durational alimony to 50% of the total length of the marriage. It also caps the durational alimony to 25% of the parties’ combined net income and further caps the total considered net income at $300,000. Additionally, the obligee, a person who is owed alimony, will be responsible for purchasing life insurance on the obligor, if they so desire. This removes the burden from the payer being forced to carry a life insurance policy with the former spouse as the beneficiary.
Section 2: The proposal allows the obligor to request a modification if he or she discovers the recipient has entered into a supportive relationship. Inversely, the obligee no longer will be able to request an increase of alimony based on income or assets provided by the payer’s new spouse.
If you need help with:
- Alimony
- Contested/Uncontested Divorce with/without assets and/or children
- Child Custody/Time-sharing disputes.
- Parenting Plans/Visitation.
- Paternity matters and Parental rights.
- Back Child Support.
- Florida divorce laws regarding Couples with Children.
- Child Custody Revocation.
- Modification of Child Support or Time-sharing.
- Or any other matters regarding Alimony and Divorce
…then contact me right away for help with your case.
Questions? Call (877) 822-1479 OR use the button below to check my Calendar for availability