Overview

In Florida, alimony (spousal support) is a court-ordered payment from one spouse to the other intended to address need and ability to pay after divorce. It is not automatic. A judge first decides whether the requesting spouse has a genuine financial need and whether the other spouse has the ability to pay. If both are shown, the court then chooses the type (temporary, bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, or durational), the amount, and the duration, guided by statutory factors such as the standard of living during the marriage, the length of the marriage, each spouse’s income and employability, parental responsibilities, contributions to the marriage (including homemaking and childcare), and any proven waste or dissipation of marital assets. Florida no longer awards permanent lifetime alimony; instead, the law emphasizes targeted support that helps the lower-earning spouse transition, retrain, or stabilize. “Durational” alimony is capped by the length of the marriage, with statutory ceilings that scale with short-, moderate-, and long-term marriages, and the court must make specific written findings tying the award to demonstrated need. Tax treatment also matters: modern alimony is generally not deductible to the payor or includable as income to the recipient under federal law for divorces finalized after 2018, so cash flow—not tax arbitrage—drives design. Practically, most Florida cases resolve with a negotiated package (alimony, child support, property division) that mirrors what a judge would likely do; when they do not, the court builds a record step by step and issues a tailored order that can be modified later if substantial, unanticipated changes occur.

Who typically benefits and who can request alimony

Alimony exists to soften the economic shock of divorce where one spouse’s earnings or employability lag behind the other’s. Typical recipients include caregivers who paused or scaled back careers to raise children; spouses who supported the other through professional school or a demanding career and now need time to reenter the workforce; and spouses facing health or age-related barriers that limit rapid self-sufficiency. Either spouse—regardless of gender—can request alimony. A higher-earning spouse may also benefit indirectly when spousal support facilitates a balanced parenting plan (e.g., maintaining proximity to children’s schools) and reduces downstream conflict. Courts consider requests across marriage lengths: short-term marriages might justify bridge-the-gap support; moderate-term marriages often implicate rehabilitative plans (skills, certifications) or modest durational support; long-term marriages can still receive durational support calibrated to need, but with ceilings tied to the marriage’s length. Parties with roughly equal incomes and similar earning capacity usually do not see alimony, though temporary support may still be ordered during the proceedings to keep lights on and mortgages paid. People who can prove waste or intentional unemployment by the other spouse may see findings of imputed income, which can reduce or eliminate alimony exposure. Finally, litigants with prenuptial or postnuptial agreements should review waiver clauses and financial disclosures carefully; enforceable waivers can control, but courts scrutinize fairness, voluntariness, and disclosure before honoring a waiver.

Benefits of understanding Florida’s alimony framework

• Clarity for negotiations: Knowing the statutory factors, marriage-length categories, and caps frames realistic settlement ranges.
• Right-sizing support: Bridge-the-gap and rehabilitative awards target specific, time-limited goals; durational awards stabilize budgets without overshoot.
• Reduced litigation risk: A proposal tied to documented need and cash flow often avoids trial and post-judgment modification battles.
• Tax awareness: Modern federal tax treatment shifts focus to net cash budgets rather than deductions; planning prevents unpleasant surprises.
• Modification roadmap: Understanding how courts evaluate “substantial change” helps parties design settlements that age well.

Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Establish the threshold—prove “need” and “ability to pay” before anything else

Every Florida alimony decision begins with a gatekeeper question: does the requesting spouse actually need support, and does the other spouse have the ability to pay after covering their own reasonable expenses? If the answer to either part is “no,” the alimony inquiry ends. Practically, you demonstrate need by building a detailed post-separation budget that reflects your real-life baseline (housing, utilities, food, transportation, medical insurance/prescriptions, childcare, tuition, minimal recreation, and essential debt service). The numbers should reflect the realities of two households, not the idealism of one combined budget. Judges expect to see supporting documents: leases or mortgage statements, utility bills, insurance premiums, childcare invoices, and medical costs. Equally important is showing what income you actually have or can reasonably earn now. If you left the workforce years ago, your current income may be minimal; if you work part-time but could move to full-time with childcare, courts will ask about timing, credentials, and availability. The more your proposal ties to a realistic employment plan, the more persuasive the “need” piece becomes.

On the other side of the ledger is the payor’s ability to pay. Ability is not a snapshot of gross income; it’s a cash-flow analysis after taxes, child support, and the payor’s reasonable monthly needs. Build and exchange sworn financial affidavits early so both sides can model scenarios. If there are allegations that someone has suppressed income (e.g., voluntarily cut back hours, declined comparable job offers, or is “consulting” for family businesses at below-market rates), Florida courts can impute income based on vocational evidence, prior earnings, and labor market data. Imputation goes both ways—courts can impute to a potential recipient who is intentionally underemployed. When child support is also at issue, run the interplay carefully: child support has priority; alimony then adjusts to what is left after applying child support guidelines. The overall aim is sustainable math, not punitive transfer.

Your threshold presentation should be clean, conservative, and document-heavy. Leave out aspirational expenses and luxury add-ons. If health issues affect employability, include medical records and treatment plans that explain limitations and timelines. If you are pursuing alimony primarily to maintain continuity for children (e.g., keeping them in the same school zone), show how the numbers accomplish that without unduly burdening the payor’s ability to maintain their own stable home. Once a judge finds need and ability to pay, the court proceeds to type, amount, and duration. If the court does not find both, you can still negotiate transitional help through uneven property distribution (offsets) or short-term support tied to specific goals (e.g., finishing a certification in three months), but a formal alimony order becomes unlikely. In short, Step 1 is about credibility: accurate budgets, believable income numbers, and an adult, solution-oriented tone that invites judicial trust.

Step 2: Choose the right tool—temporary, bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, or durational alimony

Florida’s framework offers four distinct alimony types, each with a purpose and boundary conditions. Temporary alimony (pendente lite) exists only while the divorce is pending. It keeps essential bills paid and preserves stability until final judgment; it automatically ends when the court enters a final order. Proof is lighter—basic need and ability—but you should still attach an affidavit and bills. Bridge-the-gap alimony is short and specific: it helps a spouse transition from married to single life by covering clearly identified, legitimate short-term needs (securing a lease and deposits, buying a car, licensing fees to reenter a trade, etc.). It is non-modifiable in amount and duration, and by statute it may not exceed two years. It should read like a shopping list with dates and costs, not an open-ended stipend.

Rehabilitative alimony funds a concrete plan to regain self-sufficiency—completing a degree, recertifying a nursing license, finishing an apprenticeship, or bridging to full-time work after childcare or health recovery. Courts want a written rehabilitation plan with milestones, costs, and a timetable (courses, tuition, child-care coverage, expected credential date, projected starting salary). Rehabilitative awards are modifiable and terminable if the plan is completed early, materially fails, or circumstances substantially change. The point is investment, not maintenance. Finally, durational alimony provides support for a set period that cannot exceed a statutory cap tied to the length of the marriage and must be tethered to need. Durational is the workhorse in many cases where a spouse needs more time than bridge-the-gap allows and a rehabilitation plan is necessary but insufficient alone. The court must also consider how the award interacts with equitable distribution and child support, ensuring total obligations fit both sides’ cash flow.

Choosing the right type (or a combination) is about matching need to purpose. For many families, a layered solution works best: a brief bridge-the-gap to handle move-in costs, paired with rehabilitative support for a twelve-month certification, followed by a modest durational “glide path” that steps down as income rises. Settlements often encode step-downs to reflect expected milestones (e.g., after license obtained, support reduces by $X). That structure can reduce the risk of later modification fights because you’ve already built the ramp. Always consider sequencing with child support and health insurance: who carries coverage and at what cost? If COBRA or marketplace premiums are a key driver of need, fold them explicitly into the plan rather than vaguely citing “medical.” By the end of Step 2, you should be able to articulate a coherent support story: “Here’s what we need, for how long, why this type fits, and how we’ll transition off it.”

Step 3: Analyze the statutory factors and marriage length—build findings the judge can adopt

Once type is in view, Florida judges weigh statutory factors to calibrate amount and duration. Treat these factors as headings in a memo you’d be comfortable seeing quoted in an order. Start with the standard of living during the marriage—not to freeze lifestyles in amber, but to understand baseline costs and whether both households can approximate them within reason. Then address the duration of the marriage. Florida law categorizes marriages by length (short, moderate, long) measured from the date of marriage to the date of filing, and durational alimony cannot exceed defined percentages of that length. While courts retain discretion within the cap, the category frames expectations: a short marriage rarely justifies long support; a long marriage may justify a longer glide path, still inside the statutory ceiling and anchored to need.

Next, cover the age and health of the parties and the earning capacities, education, and employability. Provide vocational assessments if helpful and affordable, or at least show job postings, salary surveys, and licensing timelines. Judges appreciate concrete evidence: “The LPN recertification requires X hours and costs $Y; average starting pay in this county is $Z.” If one spouse has primary responsibility for minor children, include the parenting schedule’s impact on work hours and commuting. If a child has special needs, explain therapy schedules and the reasonable constraints they impose; courts will examine whether the proposed schedule is child-focused rather than a pretext for non-employment.

Address contributions to the marriage, including homemaking and childrearing, and any support one spouse provided to the other’s career (relocations, call schedules, graduate school). If you allege waste or dissipation (e.g., gambling, extramarital spending that materially harmed family finances), present clear documentation and tie it to ability to pay or need—not moralizing. If nonmarital or inherited assets produce income for either party, disclose and model them; while principal may be off-limits, investment income can alter need/ability. Finally, integrate equitable distribution: a spouse who receives income-producing assets or a large cash equalizer may need less alimony; conversely, if the payor receives heavily illiquid assets, cash-flow alimony must still leave them able to keep the mortgage and taxes current. By presenting each factor with evidence and a short finding the judge could adopt verbatim, you turn a contentious topic into a manageable judicial exercise—and you markedly improve your settlement leverage.

Step 4: Do the math—cash flow, step-downs, insurance, taxes, and enforceability

Alimony rises or falls on math. After you’ve mapped need, ability, type, and factors, put numbers to paper that a judge (or mediator) can audit in minutes. Start with gross income from all sources for each party (wages, bonuses with historical average, predictable commissions, recurring distributions, and reasonable business income after ordinary expenses—not aggressive add-backs). Then compute net income by applying realistic tax withholding and mandatory deductions (FICA/Medicare, retirement only if mandatory or demonstrably consistent). Overlay child support if applicable; run guidelines first since alimony often adjusts to what remains after child support. Now itemize each party’s reasonable needs, excluding luxuries. What’s left is the theoretical capacity for alimony. If there’s a gap between the recipient’s need and the payor’s capacity, the difference frames your ask; if the payor’s capacity is smaller than the need, you must reduce the request or extend duration within caps, not force unsustainable monthly numbers.

Design step-downs that reflect expected milestones: when a certification is obtained and the recipient’s income rises, or when a high-cost childcare phase ends as a child enters full-day school. Write the steps with calendar dates or objective triggers (“upon receipt of LPN license, but no later than 12/31/2026, the alimony reduces from $X to $Y”). Courts like clarity that reduces future litigation. If using bridge-the-gap, list the short-term items and costs it covers and make sure the timeline and non-modifiability are accurate. For rehabilitative, attach the plan and link monthly support to the plan’s budget, not generic maintenance. For durational, ensure the end date respects statutory caps and confirm whether you want the amount modifiable (often yes) while respecting the duration ceiling.

Handle insurance and benefits explicitly. Who covers health insurance for the recipient during transition, and at what cost? If the recipient will use COBRA or marketplace coverage, include the premium in the need analysis and note eligibility end dates. If group coverage is unavailable, plan for a higher medical line item temporarily. For taxes, remember that for most modern divorces, alimony payments are not deductible to the payor or taxable to the recipient under federal law; model after-tax cash. If your settlement proposes something different (e.g., unallocated support), consult tax counsel—the era of routine alimony deductions is over for most cases. Document security if appropriate: life insurance on the payor naming the recipient as beneficiary in an amount tied to the stream’s present value, reducing as the obligation steps down; income-contingent adjustments if the payor’s bonus swings widely; or caps on overtime expectations to avoid turning a payor into a perpetual motion machine.

Finally, draft for enforceability. Use clear numbers, dates, and triggers. Avoid “reasonable” and “as mutually agreed” unless paired with tie-breakers and deadlines. Include a modification clause that mirrors Florida law (substantial, material, unanticipated change) and clarifies what is anticipated (e.g., completion of the credential, loss of a specific temporary stipend) so known events don’t spawn avoidable motions. If you expect a future relocation or a child’s transition to middle school to alter childcare, either pre-price the change with a step-down or name it as “anticipated,” preserving the parties’ right to revisit with mediation first. The more your numbers and words behave like a spreadsheet the court can adopt, the less likely you are to see the inside of a courtroom again.

Step 5: Negotiate in mediation—package trades, guardrails, and creativity that respect the statute

Mediation is where most Florida alimony disputes resolve, because it allows trades a judge can’t easily craft at trial. Come with a package: property division, child support, alimony, and timing. If you’re the prospective recipient, lead with a plan—bridge-the-gap items, a rehabilitative roadmap, and a durational glide path inside statutory ceilings. If you’re the prospective payor, lead with cash-flow realism—show a numbers page that provides support while leaving you solvent, then offer security (life insurance, wage withholding) and predictability (step-downs). Use trades: a slightly higher durational amount in exchange for a shorter term; more cash now via bridge-the-gap in exchange for a lower durational tail; or a property offset (e.g., more equity or a retirement split) in exchange for a tighter support schedule. Creativity is welcome so long as it honors statutory limits and public policy. For example, structuring an “advance” to pay off high-interest debt that collapses the recipient’s budget can be smarter than inflating monthly support that mostly services credit cards.

Guardrails reduce future friction. Build a verification regime that is light but effective: annual W-2/1099 exchange, capped document requests, and a simple recalculation window if income deviates by a defined percentage. Add dispute-resolution clauses: mediation before any modification motion (except emergencies) with a 30-day good-faith negotiation period. Consider cost-sharing rules for foreseeable career investments (exam fees, CEUs) tied to the rehabilitative plan. If you anticipate childcare cliffs (e.g., preschool to kindergarten), embed a pre-scheduled check-in date with default step-downs. And remember optics: settlement language that acknowledges each spouse’s contributions and the shared goal of independence helps parties comply without bitterness—compliance is the cheapest enforcement tool.

If a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement exists, evaluate its enforceability early (voluntariness, disclosure, counsel access). Even when enforceable, parties often renegotiate alimony to reflect present realities while leaving the agreement’s property framework intact. If domestic violence or coercive control is in the mix, mediation should be trauma-informed or waived for safety. When numbers feel tight, revisit health insurance and taxes; sometimes shifting which spouse carries coverage or adjusting dependent exemptions in the child support worksheet frees the cash needed to close. By the end of Step 5, you should have either a term sheet ready to draft or a sharply framed dispute for the judge, with exhibits that make the court’s math easy.

Step 6: Prepare for a contested hearing—evidence, vocational proof, and proposed findings

If settlement fails, your job is to hand the judge a record that answers every statutory question cleanly. Build a trial notebook with tabs that mirror the factors: standard of living (bank statements, recurring expenses during marriage), duration (marriage certificate and petition date), ages/health (summaries from physicians where relevant), employability (résumés, certifications, job postings, salary surveys), parenting impacts (school schedules, special-needs therapies), contributions to the marriage (relocations, childcare calendars), assets/income (tax returns, pay stubs, K-1s, profit-and-loss statements), and any dissipation claims (statements and receipts tied to dates). If imputation is an issue, consider vocational experts who can testify to local job markets and reasonable time-to-placement; their opinions carry more weight than speculation. Prepare demonstratives: a one-page cash-flow chart for each side, a timeline for rehabilitative plans, and a step-down schedule with dates and triggers. Judges appreciate visuals that map directly to findings.

Draft proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law ahead of the hearing. Even if your circuit doesn’t routinely accept party-drafted orders, having clean findings helps the judge rule from the bench and reduces the risk of omissions (e.g., forgetting to make explicit findings on need/ability or on why durational was chosen over rehabilitative alone). Keep tone professional and neutral; propose language the other side could live with if they lost. Anticipate cross-examination. If you’re the recipient, be ready for questions about job search efforts, résumé gaps, and why your budget includes certain line items. If you’re the payor, be ready to explain variable compensation (bonuses, RSUs), business expenses, and why claimed deductions are legitimate. Have originals of key exhibits and ensure your electronic versions are properly labeled and paginated for remote hearings.

Finally, plan relief in the alternative. If the court rejects your preferred structure, what is your fallback inside statutory caps that still works? Offer a ladder: “If rehabilitative is preferred, here is the plan and budget; if the court prefers durational, here is the amount and end date with step-downs.” Judges are more comfortable ruling when parties give them lawful, operational choices. Step 6 ends when you can hand the court a binder (or PDF) that would let a stranger decide your case in an hour and capture it in a five-page order without guesswork.

Step 7: Integrate alimony with equitable distribution and child support—avoid double-counting and cash crunches

Alimony never exists in a vacuum. Equitable distribution and child support are the other legs of the stool, and mishandling the interplay creates fragile settlements. Start with property division: identify which assets produce income (brokerage accounts, rental properties) and who will own them. If the recipient receives an income-producing asset, model that income into their budget; if the payor receives the income asset, model the taxes and maintenance costs before layering on alimony. For retirement accounts, remember liquidity—an award of retirement equity doesn’t pay rent this month; sometimes a cash equalizer timed with move-out solves bridging needs more efficiently than higher monthly alimony. With real estate, be realistic about carrying costs. If one spouse retains the marital home, property taxes, insurance, and maintenance can swamp a thin cash flow; reflect that in alimony math or consider a sale with a smaller, sustainable housing plan for both homes.

For child support, run the guideline worksheet accurately with actual or imputed incomes and the proposed time-sharing schedule. Health insurance premiums and childcare costs are crucial inputs; be precise about who pays and when these costs end or step down. Remember priority: guideline child support is calculated first; then the court considers alimony, ensuring the combined obligations don’t make either household unworkable. Avoid double-counting expenses—if an item is included in child support (e.g., daycare inside the guideline inputs), don’t also fund it inside alimony. Conversely, if the recipient’s budget includes health insurance for themselves (not the child), ensure it is outside the child support inputs and clearly supported in alimony need.

Finally, build a calendar that shows cash timing: pay dates, rent/mortgage due dates, and step-down milestones. Align alimony payment dates with the recipient’s rent cycle and the payor’s payroll for smoother cash flow and fewer late fees. Add a wage deduction order for predictability where appropriate, and specify electronic payment methods to avoid “the check is in the mail” disputes. Step 7’s deliverable is a holistic plan where property, support, and parenting logistics fit together—no leaks, no hidden cliffs.

Step 8: Draft a bulletproof order—clarity, triggers, security, and modification standards

Your final judgment or marital settlement agreement should read like a self-executing script. For type, state it plainly (temporary ends at final judgment; bridge-the-gap limited to two years and non-modifiable; rehabilitative with attached plan; durational with end date within statutory cap). For amount, write exact monthly sums and, if relevant, biweekly equivalents to match payroll. For step-downs, specify objective triggers (license issuance, job start date, end of preschool) and hard backstops in case milestones slip. For security, order life insurance on the payor with declining face value tied to remaining alimony, detail proof-of-coverage exchanges, and provide a remedy (contempt or automatic premium advances and reimbursement) if coverage lapses.

Clarify modification terms in harmony with Florida law: an award is modifiable upon a substantial, material, unanticipated, and continuing change in circumstances (unless explicitly non-modifiable by statute, e.g., bridge-the-gap). Provide examples of anticipated changes (rehab plan completion, step-down dates, known bonus cycles) to reduce opportunistic motions. If you foresee relocation or predictable job-market shifts, write in a review window with mandatory mediation before court. Include enforcement tools: wage deduction, contempt standards, fee-shifting for willful noncompliance, and a simple interest clause on arrears. If your case features high variable income, add a bonus formula (e.g., X% of net bonus above $Y, capped, with a due date and proof requirement) rather than guessing future base raises.

Do not forget integration clauses that prevent side deals from undermining the written order, and a severability clause so one invalid term doesn’t topple the rest. Provide addresses for notice, electronic payment instructions, and a procedure to update contact info. Finally, produce a clean summary page—type, amount, start date, step-down dates, end date, insurance—so both parties and any payroll department can follow it at a glance. A clear order saves both sides legal fees and reduces the court’s workload.

Step 9: Live the plan—compliance, documentation, and early, data-driven course corrections

After judgment, alimony moves from theory to routines. Set up automatic payments via wage deduction or ACH to avoid late fees and disputes. Keep a private ledger with payment dates, amounts, and any step-downs. If your order uses a bonus formula, calendar deadlines for proof and payment; if you are the recipient, calendar step-down dates and licensure milestones linked to your rehabilitative plan. Exchange annual income documents as your order requires—W-2s/1099s, a recent pay stub, or a short declaration—so both sides can confirm compliance or trigger adjustments. If you are the recipient and your income rises sooner than planned, embrace the step-down; credibility now is insurance later if a real hardship hits.

Address issues early and with data. If a payor’s job evaporates or a recipient’s health crisis derails a plan, document immediately (termination letters, medical records) and request mediation to explore temporary adjustments. Courts respond far better to proactive, good-faith problem-solving than to arrears and surprise motions. Keep insurance proof up to date if life insurance secures the stream; lapses can trigger emergency relief. When you reach the end date of durational or bridge-the-gap alimony, be ready for sunset—orders end by their own terms unless the statute allows and you timely file to extend (e.g., rehabilitative plan bona fide extension requests with proof).

Finally, treat communication as a professional channel. Use email or agreed apps, keep messages short, and attach documents rather than rhetoric. If conflict returns, re-read your order; nine times out of ten, the answer is already in the text. If not, your modification clause likely requires mediation before court—follow it. Good habits now keep you out of expensive, zero-sum litigation and protect the resources both households need.

Step 10: Modify or terminate when life truly changes—standards, timing, and proof

Florida allows modification or termination of modifiable alimony when there is a substantial, material, unanticipated, and continuing change in circumstances that affects need or ability to pay. Classic examples: involuntary job loss and a sustained inability to find comparable work despite diligent search; disability or major health decline verified by medical evidence; completion or failure of a rehabilitative plan; or retirement at a reasonable age in good faith (not an engineered reduction). Temporary blips, voluntary underemployment, or foreseeable events already accounted for in your order generally fail. If you’re the payor seeking reduction, compile a timeline of job-search efforts (applications, interviews, recruiter logs), current earnings proof, and a cash-flow update. If you’re the recipient and your costs spiked (e.g., unavoidable medical, loss of health coverage), gather bills, insurer letters, and physician notes; if your income growth stalled, document efforts and barriers. If you seek to extend rehabilitative alimony because a plan is incomplete but progressing, file before the term expires and bring proof of good-faith progress and why more time is warranted.

Sequence process correctly: follow any mediation-first requirement, then file a targeted supplemental petition or motion to modify with sworn financial affidavits and exhibits. Propose practical interim measures (temporary step-downs, time-limited relief) to avoid arrears while the court hears the matter. If your order has non-modifiable features (e.g., bridge-the-gap amount/duration), respect those—courts enforce non-modifiability strictly. If the payor is in contempt for nonpayment, purge conditions typically include lump-sum catch-up, wage deduction, or posting security; judges are receptive to realistic purge plans paired with credible proof of current capacity.

Treat retirement carefully. If you intend to retire, give notice and produce retirement-plan documents, SSA statements, and a budget showing why the timing is reasonable and in good faith. Courts balance the right to retire with the obligation to support; a phased reduction can be a fair solution. Whatever the change, file promptly; allowing arrears to pile up before seeking relief weakens your credibility. The finish line of Step 10 is a modification record as clean as your original one: numbers, timelines, and a modest ask tied tightly to statute and facts.

Costs Associated

Expect filing fees for motions, potential mediation costs (often shared), vocational expert or accountant fees in complex cases, and the administrative costs of wage deduction or life insurance. Attorney’s fees are sometimes shifted by the court based on need and relative ability to pay; build fee exposure into your settlement calculus.

Time Required

Uncontested alimony issues can be finalized with the overall divorce in weeks. Contested cases involving discovery, experts, and trial typically take months. Temporary support can be awarded early to stabilize finances; final terms follow once the court has a full record.

Limitations

• Alimony is not a substitute for equitable distribution; property division still occurs and affects need and ability.
• Bridge-the-gap is capped at two years and non-modifiable; rehabilitative requires a written plan; durational cannot exceed statutory caps tied to marriage length.
• Tax law limits the usefulness of alimony as a deduction in modern cases; budgets must work after taxes.

Risks and Unexpected Problems

• Thin documentation of need or ability invites denial or a much smaller award.
• Ignoring child support priority or property cash-flow realities produces unworkable orders.
• Variable-income cases without bonus formulas spark endless disputes; draft predictably.
• Failure to build step-downs or verification creates modification battles you could have avoided.

Sources

• Florida Statutes, Chapter 61 — Dissolution of Marriage; Support; Time-Sharing
• Florida Courts — Family Law Forms (financial affidavits, dissolution packets)
• The Florida Bar — Time-Sharing and Parental Responsibility (context for support interplay)
• Florida Department of Children and Families — Public resources (insurance and support context)