It is important for a family court to first and foremost establish all the factors that have been provided for in Florida Statute 61.08. This statute provides the factors that ought to be taken into consideration when calculating the amount of alimony a spouse ought to receive in Florida.
The standard of living established during the marriage
The duration of the marriage
The age, as well as the physical and emotional condition of each party
The financial resources of each party, including the non-marital and marital assets and marital liabilities distributed to each in the divorce
The earning capacities, educational levels, vocational skills, and employability of the parties
In some situations and/or when necessary, the time necessary for either party to acquire sufficient education or training to enable such party to find appropriate employment
The contribution of each party to the marriage, including, but not limited to, services rendered in homemaking, child care, education, and career building of the other party
The responsibilities each party will have in their Florida parenting plan and time sharing obligations
The tax treatment and consequences to both parties of any alimony award
Lastly, all sources of income available to either party are considered, including income available to either party after equitable distribution
It is important for all these factors to be taken into consideration in order to help in the calculation of alimony that ought to be paid by the paying spouse as well as that which ought to be received by the recipient spouse.