Alimony Reform in Florida- Solve for X

     For the past few years I felt compelled to write about the pending alimony reform in Florida law.  So  years ago I kept updating information as  the House and Senate bills wound their ways through the legislature…only to end up on Governor Scott’s desk, and be dealt, in the 11^th hour…and I do mean the 11^th hours, a death delivered by the governor’s veto pen.

Now, last year, none of the state’s legislators even presented a bill.  Why (in case you may be asking)?

      Simple answer….it was an election year. And no matter what side you may be on regarding the alimony reform issue, any seasoned politician knows, you’re going to alienate half of the electorate regardless of the position you take.

So here we are in 2016.  Although it may be a national  election year, it is not a state election year.  So once again, the Florida House and the Florida Senate came to a consensus, and passed mirror bills, that now sit somewhere close to Governor Scott’s Desk.   

     Now, I could begin to outline all of the changes this bill presents, and give you the formula that, if the bill is not vetoed by the governor, will be used by the Florida courts to calculate alimony, a combination of certain variances of percentages, the difference between the gross incomes of the two parties and the number of years of marriage.  But why do that…. This bill could end up with its predecessor…in the proverbial legislative trash basket.

     And don’t get me started…I’ve not even told you about the “pork” part of the bills, where courts are going to start with the “premise” of 50/50 time sharing for a parties’ offspring.  Oh yes, do feel free to look up the definition of premise and send me the definition you find.  Should this bill become law, I could surely use some input in the definition of this word because I am sure I will spend much time arguing the definition, as it may be applicable, depending on the position I may take for a specific client.

     If and when the bill becomes law…and we will know pretty soon, then we can start solving for X, but then again, this is law, and when it comes to law nothing is a given, no matter how many formulas exist.

    Want to stay updated?  Have family law issues?  Visit my website below.

www.vovalaw.com

Cindy Vova
Law Office of Cindy S. Vova, P.A.
8551 West Sunrise Blvd., Suite 301
Plantation, FL 33322
info@vovalaw.com
954-316-3496