Is Florida Alimony on the Verge of Change?

Florida alimony will continue to be a hot issue in the legislature. But one thing's for certain. The current law is going to change. It’s just a matter of when and how. Governor Rick Scott vetoed that last attempt to change the law. The largest point of contention was the retroactive provision. Had the law passed, people who have been receiving alimony and depend on it would have lost access to these funds. People who would be affected by the new law protested loudly against it. Also, constitutional scholars questioned the legality of the retroactive provision. The US Constitution prohibits states from passing new laws that disable prior contracts.

Compromise will be necessary if the alimony reformers want change. Reformers say the law is antiquated and needs to be adjusted to reflect the current economic status of both husbands and wives. Here is an interesting link to an NPR talk about the alimony debate: http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2013-05-20/debate-over-ending-lifetime-alimony