Change is here in Florida

Alimony (for cases pending on, or filed after, July 1, 2010).

1. Separates terms of marriages into three categories: Short Term is marriages under 7 years; Moderate is marriages from 7 to 17 years; Long Term is marriages longer than 17 years.  The Court will measure from date of marriage to the date of filing the Petition for Dissolution (Divorce).

2. Four types of alimony:

A) Bridge-the Gap (limited to 2 years and non-modifiable)

B) Rehabilitative (based upon specific plan, modifiable and designed to help receiver become self-supportive)

C) Durational (based upon number of years of marriage, awarded when permanent not appropriate and modifiable), and

D) Permanent (looks at lifestyle during marriage and whether receiver can continue in same lifestyle on their own).

3. All alimony awards are subject to ending upon death or the payor or remarriage of payee.

Child Support (changes effective 10/1/2010)

1. Eliminated the 25% reduction for childcare costs so that now 100% are included in child support.

2. Requires a specific schedule on the termination of child support and, if there is more than one child, the modified amounts for child support as child support ends for each child.

3. Discusses extensively the concept of imputing income.

4. Appears to delete child support for the bottom three combined income levels in the old statute.

5. Removes the cliff effect that presently occurs for parenting plans that allow timesharing of 40% or more with the minority time parent and changes it to 20%. The change is designed to allow child support to flow to where the child goes.

iMediate Inc. continues to stay informed and will remain on the cutting edge of the current laws as we track the changes that will affect you and your family. Call us and have our family divorce mediators assist you today.

iChat Mediation invites you to come and learn more about having either your divorce conducted by one of our State Supreme Court Certified mediators or how you can become part of the most cutting edge virtual companies in the world. To learn more visit us online at http://www.ichatmediation.com or call us at 877-822-1479.

In the words of Lawton Chiles, “I didn’t come to stay, I came to make a difference.”