Florida Alimony in 2025: The New Rules Every Divorcing Spouse Needs to Know

Florida divorce law changed dramatically in 2023. Permanent alimony is gone. New durational limits are in place. And the 35% income cap introduced by the reform affects nearly every spousal support case in the state. If you are going through a divorce now, the old rules no longer apply.

What the 2023 Reform Actually Changed

Governor DeSantis signed the alimony reform bill in July 2023. The biggest change was eliminating permanent alimony entirely. Under the old law someone married 20 or more years could potentially receive support for life. That is no longer possible. Every award now has a maximum duration tied to the length of the marriage.

The New Durational Limits

For marriages under 10 years, the maximum alimony duration is 50% of the marriage length. A seven year marriage could produce up to three and a half years of support. Marriages of 10 to 20 years carry a maximum of 60% of the marriage length. Long term marriages over 20 years carry a maximum of 75%. These are ceilings, not guarantees. Judges can award less.

The 35% Income Cap

Alimony cannot exceed 35% of the difference between the spouses' net monthly incomes. If one spouse earns $7,000 net and the other earns $2,500, the difference is $4,500 and the maximum monthly alimony is $1,575. This cap significantly reduced the large awards that were common under the old law in long marriages.

What Judges Still Consider

Within these caps, judges still weigh the standard of living during the marriage, each spouse's earning capacity, contributions one spouse made to the other's career, the age and health of both parties, and whether one spouse reduced their career for the family. There is meaningful discretion, which is why two similar cases can produce different results.

The New Retirement Rules

The 2023 law also allows a paying spouse to petition for reduction or elimination of alimony when they reach full Social Security retirement age. Courts must treat this as a substantial change in circumstances and give it serious weight, though it does not automatically end the obligation.