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Florida Alimony: Types & the 2023 Reform

Under Fla. Stat. § 61.08 a court may award temporary, bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, or durational alimony. SB 1416 (2023) eliminated permanent (lifetime) alimony for final judgments entered on or after July 1, 2023, and added new limits. Confirm the current statute for the specific year and percentage limits.

By Find Local Law Editorial Team · Last reviewed: May 26, 2026

Researched and drafted with AI assistance and verified against primary sources (statutes, Judicial Council forms, and official court websites). This is general information, not legal advice.

This is general information, not legal advice. Alimony law changed recently — talk to a Florida attorney about the current rules.

Florida alimony (spousal support) changed significantly in 2023. A court may award alimony under Fla. Stat. § 61.08, but the menu of options is narrower than it used to be.

The types of alimony

A Florida court may award:

  • Temporary alimony — during the case;
  • Bridge-the-gap alimony — to help a spouse transition to single life;
  • Rehabilitative alimony — to fund education or training toward self-support; and
  • Durational alimony — for a set period.

The 2023 reform (SB 1416)

Recent: SB 1416 (2023) eliminated permanent (lifetime) alimony for final judgments entered on or after July 1, 2023, and added new limits. As reported, these include:

  • Rehabilitative alimony capped at five years;
  • Durational alimony not available for marriages under three years;
  • A durational amount generally limited to the lesser of need or 35% of the income difference; and
  • Reduction or termination when the recipient is in a “supportive relationship.”

Treat those specific year and percentage limits as “confirm the current statute,” since the law is recent and the details matter.

Alimony is decided alongside property division in a divorce. To get matched with a local Florida family-law attorney, connect with a lawyer.

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Frequently asked questions

What types of alimony does Florida have?
Florida courts may award temporary, bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, or durational alimony (Fla. Stat. § 61.08). The type depends on the need and the purpose the support serves.
Does Florida still have permanent alimony?
No. SB 1416 (2023) eliminated permanent (lifetime) alimony for final judgments entered on or after July 1, 2023 (Fla. Stat. § 61.08). This is a recent change — confirm the current statute.
What limits did the 2023 reform add?
The 2023 reform added limits such as rehabilitative alimony being capped at five years, durational alimony being unavailable for marriages under three years, and a durational amount generally limited to the lesser of need or 35% of the income difference. Confirm the current statute for these year and percentage limits.

Sources

Related guides

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  • Florida Divorce: Grounds, Residency & Process Florida is a no-fault state: the usual ground is that the marriage is 'irretrievably broken' (Fla. Stat. § 61.052), with the only alternative being a party's mental incapacity for the preceding three years. One party must have resided in Florida for six months before filing (Fla. Stat. § 61.021).
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  • Florida Property Division: Equitable Distribution Florida is an equitable distribution state. The court must begin with the premise that distribution should be equal, unless a justification for an unequal split exists under the statutory factors (Fla. Stat. § 61.075). Marital assets are acquired during the marriage; nonmarital property is owned before marriage or received by gift or inheritance.
  • Florida Time-Sharing & Parental Responsibility Florida uses 'time-sharing' and 'parental responsibility' instead of 'custody' (Fla. Stat. § 61.13). A parenting plan is required, and decisions follow the best interests of the child. A 2023 amendment created a rebuttable presumption that equal (50/50) time-sharing is in the child's best interest.

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