Legal Question in Family Law in Florida

Question RE: alimony, etc.

My in-laws, both in their 50's, live in Florida and are about to go through a divorce. My mother-in-law (MIL) found out about a year+ ago that my FIL had taken up with a Nicaraguan woman in her 20's while on one of his fishing trips there. MIL confronted him and he admitted it. He has been down to visit his girlfriend quite a number of times since. He buys her things (cars, computers, etc.), and is trying to get her entry into the US. MIL and FIL have been living in the same house since all this started. Now MIL and FIL want to end everything - sell the house and split assets, etc. MIL never worked - she stayed home and raised the family (she's a naturalized american citizen - originally from England). My question is, What can she expect in alimony? FIL is on 80% disability from the V.A., but the real rub is that he does about 2/3 of his work ''off the books'', so tax returns for the last 30 years are ridiculously low. And MIL is afraid to challenge them as false since she had to co-sign them. What do the laws say about this? What, realistically, can she expect? Is alimony figured as a % of the REPORTED income? Thanks....


Asked on 3/22/01, 1:06 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Melody Stickel-Martinez Melody Stickel-Martinez, Esq.

Re: Question RE: alimony, etc.

Alimony is a very involved matter and I would be unable to properly address this without more information. However, I can say this, Alimony is based on the needs of the person asking for Alimony and the ability of the other person to pay Alimony. There is a list that is referred to in the Fla. Statutes which address whether someone qualifies for alimony such as age, health, education, length of marriage. Also in this case there is certainly an issue of the waste of marital assets on the girlfriend. This would play a part in alimony as well. Review my web page for more information on alimony. www.attorney-4u.com

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Answered on 5/30/01, 12:13 pm


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