Spring Hill Spousal Support Lawyer: Navigating New Alimony Laws In Hernando And Pasco Counties

Losing the income you built a household around can make the rest of a divorce feel impossible to plan. Florida rewrote its alimony statutes in 2023, changing how support is calculated and awarded across Hernando and Pasco counties. As an experienced Spring Hill spousal support lawyer with 18 years of legal practice, including years spent in local courtrooms as an Assistant Public Defender, I handle every client’s case personally. When you retain the Law Office of Karen C. Ozyjowski, P.A., the attorney you hire is the attorney you work with from start to finish.

How Florida Alimony Law Works After The 2023 Changes 

Florida law asks two questions: Does one spouse need support, and can the other afford to pay it? Permanent alimony no longer exists. As a result, judges in Hernando and Pasco county courts now award support for a set term tied to the length of the marriage. 

Types Of Spousal Support A Florida Court Can Order 

The type a judge chooses depends on what the money is for and how long financial need lasts. Length of the marriage limits several options. These are the types available:

• Temporary support: Paid while the divorce is pending and ends at final judgment
• Bridge-the-gap alimony: Covers short-term expenses during the move to single life, capped at two years
• Rehabilitative alimony: Funds training that rebuilds earning capacity under a written plan filed with the court
• Durational alimony: Runs for a set number of years and is unavailable after marriages under three years

A judge may combine two of these, so the request you file at the start shapes your financial outcome.

How Judges Decide The Amount You Pay Or Receive 

There is no formula. The court weighs the standard of living during the marriage, its length, each spouse’s earning capacity, contributions such as childcare and the payer’s income after support. As an assertive Spring Hill family law attorney, I work to resolve most alimony disputes through strategic negotiation so my clients can avoid the stress of a contested hearing.

Modifying Or Ending An Alimony Obligation 

A substantial, permanent and involuntary change in circumstances supports a modification. Reaching normal retirement age is now grounds to ask for a reduction or termination of support. Also, remarriage ends durational support, while entry into a supportive relationship can reduce or end payments. 

What To Do When Your Ex Stops Paying 

Unpaid alimony does not disappear or expire. A lawyer can file a motion to enforce, seek contempt or request an income deduction order that routes payment from wages. Keep a dated record of every missed payment. 

Get Straight Answers About Your Alimony Options 

Talk through your situation with our attorney before you agree to any number. I represent clients across Spring Hill, Hernando County and Pasco County, and I can arrange to meet outside my office if your schedule or circumstances call for it. Call 352-725-7002 or send me a message online to get started.