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Alimony & Child Support
Alimony & Child Support

Get Help Understanding Your Rights Concerning Alimony And Child Support Payments

When it comes to child support and alimony, it often seems like there is not enough money to go around. Financial matters can transform a peaceful divorce into a bitter war. At The Murphy Law Group, we educate our clients on how support impacts their financial picture, both now and in the future.

Our initial goal is to find out your financial expectations in receiving or paying support, whether child support or alimony. From there, we conduct a detailed analysis by evaluating various financial records and tax records.

No one should be paying more than he or she reasonably can, nor should someone receive more than he or she is entitled to under the law.

Conversely, every spouse and child is entitled to be adequately supported, and attorney Stephanie Murphy strives to ensure that no spouse or child is short-changed.

Alimony Orders In Florida

Spousal maintenance, also known as alimony, can be a major point of contention during divorce proceedings. However, at The Murphy Law Group, we are dedicated to reducing friction and costly litigation by helping both parties in a divorce reach a sustainable alimony settlement, often through compromise and negotiation.

Florida courts do not automatically award alimony to a spouse. However, they often recognize that separating couples may face unequal financial challenges after a divorce – especially if one spouse has sacrificed their educational or professional career to support the marriage or to raise children the couple may share. In these situations, Florida courts typically award some amount of alimony to the financially-disadvantaged spouse. This alimony may last for only as long as it takes for the receiving spouse to become financially independent, or the alimony may be awarded indefinitely.

What To Know About Florida Alimony

Alimony is governed by the recently amended Florida Statutes, and by court interpretation of those statutes. When making decisions regarding alimony, Florida courts typically consider two categories of factors:

  • What Florida laws and statutes say about whether a spouse is entitled to alimony, and what type(s) of alimony they may be entitled to
  • The financial factors which may determine they value of the alimony payments the spouse is entitled to, and for how long they are entitled to receive those payments, with a focus on one spouse’s need for alimony and the other spouse’s ability to pay alimony.

Tax Implications

It is important to note that alimony is typically considered income to the receiving party, and categorized as deductible by the paying party. The Murphy Law Group can help you consider how receiving or paying alimony may affect your income and tax obligations, and can assist you in making an informed decision about pursuing or challenging an alimony award.

Stephanie Murphy can help you consider how receiving or paying alimony may affect your income and tax obligations, and can assist you in making an informed decision about pursuing or challenging an alimony award. She may also do so in conjunction with your accountant or even a forensic accountant if necessary. The tax implications of alimony evolve with the tax code. We at the The Murphy Law Group pay close attention to tax legislation so we can keep our clients abreast on how it could affect them.

Child Support Orders In Florida

Like alimony, child support is governed by factors outlined in Chapter 61 of the Florida Statutes. However, unlike alimony, child support is established pursuant to a numeric formula, with consideration of both spouses’ incomes, certain expenses such as health insurance or child care, and the time sharing schedule established in your parenting plan. The result is a computer generated amount that is only as accurate as the information entered into the calculator.

Hardships can result, particularly when there is a dispute in the income or expenses.

After handling hundreds of family law cases, The Murphy Law Group has built a reputation for diligence, compassion and practical solutions. We are dedicated to helping you settle your child support or alimony case through mediation or to obtaining the relief you are entitled to through aggressive litigation at trial.

Establishing Paternity

Establishing paternity doesn’t just help fathers assert their parental rights and gain access to their children through custody and visitation orders; it also helps children get the financial support they need and deserve from both parents.

In Florida, there are three ways in which parents can establish paternity:

  • At the hospital – If the child’s parents are married at the time of birth, the husband is presumed to be the father and paternity is automatically established. If the child’s parents are not married, then both parents can establish paternity at the hospital.
  • Through legitimation or acknowledgement If the mother is unmarried at the time of her child’s birth, but later marries the child’s father, then paternity can be established through the process of legitimation by applying for a marriage license. Unmarried parents may also establish paternity voluntarily by signing the Acknowledgement of Paternity form.
  • By a court order This can be initiated by a judge or by the Florida Department of Revenue, which will review your case and order paternity testing on your behalf in court.

Stephanie Murphy can assist you through the entire paternity process, helping you understand your rights and what will come next at each step. Her focus on family and the best interests of the children will ensure you have a strong advocate in your corner who is truly seeking the most favorable outcome for you and your family.

Contact Our Law Firm Today

As you enter this transitional time in your life, trust your child support and alimony issues to an experienced divorce attorney who cares. Call our Sarasota office at 941-584-9570 to schedule an initial consultation. Or, if you prefer, contact us by e-mail using our online submission form. For your convenience, we accept all major credit cards.