Bills would reform alimony in Florida

Alimony reform appears to be a hot topic around the country following the recent passage of a bill in Massachusetts that brought these spousal support payments in line with reality.

Florida has hopped on the alimony reform bandwagon with nearly identical bills being introduced in the House and the Senate.

"Florida's permanent alimony laws are relics from another century," Representative Ritch Workman, sponsor of HB 549 in the House, said. "I support helping the lower-earning spouse during a transition period after a marriage ends, but there are too many injustices in the current system. Too often, lifetime alimony brings payers to bankruptcy, insolvency, and foreclosure. Lifetime alimony sends the wrong message to those getting divorced in our state."

Specifically the bills (the one in the state Senate is SB 748) would put a cap on the length of time alimony can be paid based on the length of the marriage, would virtually end alimony once retirement age is reached and would limit the maximum amount of alimony paid to 20 percent of the payer's monthly income, among other provisions, according to Florida Alimony Reform.

Lawmakers in New Jersey are also reportedly attempting to reform the state's alimony laws, according to the Huffington Post.

Read more about alimony reform efforts on our affiliated website MensRights.com.