People from all walks of life and people who work in all industries are divorced or are divorcing as we speak. In many cases, a divorcing couple will have an amicable situation and they will come to an agreement on many things, but there are many cases when the terms of the divorce are less than amicable. One issue that often causes disagreement is spousal support.
Recently, Florida lawmakers passed a bill that would overhaul spousal support in the state, ending so-called permanent alimony and changing spousal support in cases involving marriages of long duration. If it becomes law, the proposal will end any spousal support obligation once the paying party reaches age 65. While proponents say this change promotes fairness, many oppose the measure for a variety of reasons, and have asked Gov. Ron DeSantis to veto the bill.
One group that is opposed to the bill is first responders.
How does retirement tie into spousal support?
Proponents of the bill set the age cutoff at 65 because that is a typical retirement age for many employers and institutions. However, first responders including police and firefighters typically retire at a younger age than do people in other occupations. They say their jobs are physically demanding, and many cannot wait until age 65 before they retire. If the bill becomes law, first responders who pay spousal support may need to keep working until that age in order to satisfy the law and continue making payments.
Spousal support orders can lead to difficult issues for both paying parties and receiving parties. If you have questions about spousal support, an experienced Florida lawyer can help you understand your rights and your options.