Maintenance & Support (Alimony & Child Support) Flashcards
What is required in order for an award of alimony to survive appeal
COURT SHALL INCLUD FACTUAL FINDINGS OF FACTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH 61.08
What is the first step court shall determining in an alimony claim
NEED & ABILITY
What is the most common basis to appeal an alimony award
LACK OF FACTUAL FINDINGS - litigants are REQUIRED to file motion for rehearing in order to preserve right to appeal if the basis is lack of factual findings
Does court have ability to order relief to protect alimony award
61.08(4)
To the extent necessary to protect an award of alimony, the court may order the obligor to purchase or maintain a life insurance policy or a bond, or to otherwise secure such alimony award with any other assets that may be suitable for that purpose. The court must make specific findings that there are special circumstances that warrant the purchase or maintenance of a life insurance policy or a bond to secure the alimony award. If the court orders a party to purchase or maintain a life insurance policy or a bond, the court may apportion the costs of such insurance or bond to either or both parties based upon a determination of the ability of the obligee and obligor to pay such costs.
How is the length of marriage defined
DOM - DOF
What must be included in a FJ awarding rehabilitative alimony
Specific and defined rehabilitative plan
Must court order alimony to be paid through depository?
For alimony after 1/1/85 - it’s not necessary if there are no kids or if there are kids and both parties agree not necessary
If both parties agree that depository is not necessary for alimony payments, is this permanent
No, either party can later apply to the depository to require payments take place through there
If a party wants payments through depository after award of alimony, what must they do
File an affidavit alleging default or arrearages and state request for depository & provide copy to interest parties
15 days after receipt of affidavit, depository shall notify all parties payments should be directed to depository
When can a party seek temporary alimony
During pendency of DOM and even during period of time that a FJ is being appealed
Can the court award temporary undifferentiated support for alimony and child support
No - this is an abuse of discretion - court has to identify amount for alimony and child support consistent with CSG
Do you have to plead for alimony
Yes - include all 4 types in your pleading if you want to request it. If you request permanent and nothing else and it’s denied, you’re stuck
Must the FJ for an award of alimony include language as to when the award terminates
61.08 was modified to set forth how each type of alimony is terminated BUT in 2019, TRITSCHLER case the 2nd DCA held that a failure to identify time and manner for terminate of alimony was error on its face
Can the court award alimony after entry of a FJ
Only if it reserved jurisdiction based on a potential change in circumstances
If court does not award alimony and fails to reserve jurisdiction to determine alimony later, can it later award alimony
NO SUBJECT MATTER JUR TO CONSIDER A LATER REQUEST FOR ALIMONY
What is an effective way for court to reserve jur to deal with alimony later if circumstances change
Award nominal alimony such as $1 so it can later increase amount in modification
What is court doesn’t provide terminate date for rehab alimony
It is reversible error
What must all FL courts find in order to award bridge the gap alimony
Must be proven by competence substantial evidence of legitimate identifiable short terms needs and it cannot exceed 2 years
When would a rehab plan be inappropriate
If the recipient spouse has no capacity to be rehabilitated - the purposes of rehab alimony is for recipient to develop skills to become self supporting
If a spouse is already self sufficient at time of divorce, can rehab alimony be awarded
It may still be awarded if the rehab plan offers a greater earning potential over course of career
What evidence must a spouse put on to seek rehab award
Competence substantial evidence that the training in the plan will increase his or her earning capacity
When did durational alimony become part of FL law
June 1, 2010
who has burden of proof in request for alimony
Person requesting alimony has burden of proving NEED AND ABILITY once they meet their burden, burden shifts to the other spouse to rebut
What is spouse seeking alimony burden with respect to alimony request
In proving NEED - must establish the income available to themselves
In providing ability to pay - must show income available to payor including imputed income
What is standard of review concerning a recipient spouses’ need?
Abuse of discretion
When determining need and ability, should court be using gross or net income
It is reversible error to use gross income COURT MUST USE NET INCOME when determining need & ability
Can undistributed pass through income be used as income for purposes of alimony
Zold determine that it depends on the reasons why the fund were retained
undistributed pass through income retained by a corporation for corporate purposes does not consistent income within chapter 61
Why are undistributed pass through income retained by a corporation for corporate purposes not considered income for purposes of alimony?
Bc that pass through income will be used by the corporation to maintain corporate operations and therefore cannot be used by a shareholder spouse to satisfy financial obligations imposed upon DOM
Who has the burden of providing that undistributed pass through income should or should not be considered as income for alimony
The shareholder spouse has the burden to prove that the undistributed pass through income was properly retained for corporate purpose
What should court consider when analyzing if undistributed pass through income should be considered
- the extent to which shareholder spouse has access or control over pass through income
2.limitations governing corporate distributions to shareholders - purpose the funds are being retained
What did the Niederman case stand for
Reiterates that all sources of income available to parties must be considered including retirement. In Niederman, Court was required to consider income W would receive from IRA even though she had to take steps to set up a 72(t) withdrawal plan in order to make penalty fee withdrawals prior to 59 1/2. It put Wife’s retirement into pay status to give sizeable income without invading principal
What must court consider in determining if a spouse is voluntarily unemployed
- If employment previously existed and was terminated voluntarily
- If unemployment is a result of spouse’s failure to diligently find employment that is equivalent in income to former position
If income is to be imputed, what must trial court do
Trial court may only impute a level of income supported by evidence of
-employment potential and probably earnings based on work history
-qualifications
-wages in community
Can court consider a spouse’s condition that existed before a marriage in an award of perm alimony in a short term marriage
Yes - Levey case 2nd DCA 2005
What is TCJA
Tax Cuts & Jobs Act
What year did TCJA say alimony payment no longer deductible and no longer taxable to recipient
Any agreement executed January 1, 2019 and after
Does the recapture rule apply
Not to any alimony awards entered after 12/31/18
When does lump sum alimony terminate
Unless an agreement states otherwise, a lump sum alimony award does NOT terminate on payee’s death and it is therefore not deductible for fed income tax purposes
Parties agree W will stay home with kids during marriage and H can afford same. Upon divorce, W wants to remain home with kids and H can afford. Is it error for court to award alimony?
It is improper if recipient spouse is able to be rehabilitated
What is the general standard in determining standard of living
The last 3 years of the marriage
Can court award alimony to equalize financial position of parites
It’s error to do that according to Donoff 4thDCA 2006
When should lump sum alimony be awarded
- special necessity justifying it
- unusual circumstances which would require the non modifiable award & payor can make payment without endangering economic status
Is lump sum alimony an additional form of alimony
No it’s a manner in which alimony is paid
Can court order lump sum ED
YEs - it’s just an equalizer payment but it can’t be treated like alimony or subsequently reclassified alimony to employ enforceability power
Is lump sum alimony modfiable
No - it’s non modifiable, payment doesn’t terminate upon death of payor or remarriage or recipient which is why special and unusual circumstances are required for such an award
H has a history of refusing to pay support. Can court award lump sum?
Yes - this would be an appropriate lump sum alimony award
Can court order lump sum rehab alimony
Yes
Is lump sum rehab alimony modifiable
Unlike lump sum alimony - lump sum rehab alimony is modifiable / terminable if remarriage or other circumstances exists to eliminate or alter need for further rehab
Is an award of life insurance or a bond standard in DOM
No - it is not standard or customer. NECESSITY is the key to invoking such request per 61.08(3)
What are grounds for court to order an obligor to secure a support obligation with life insurance
Special circumstances must exists - it can be awarded to satisfy arrearages or to protect financial well being of recipient
What are some methods of security a support award
-life insurance most common
-can include placing a lien on some or all of payor’s assets
-alimony trust is also viable and is created by having payor transfer the asset to a trust to a trustee for benefit of recipient
What are deemed special circumstances for purposes of an order to secure alimony obligation
-when receiving spouse is faced with being plunged into dire economic status upon death of payee
What is considered an excess award?
-One which requires payor to pay all or nearly all of its income
-usually more than 50% of net is excessive
-court must look at entire support obligation a total - alimony, cs, health insurance, % of kid expenses
What is the standard of review for alimony
abuse of discretion
What is needed in an order for alimony to sustain appeal
competent substantial evidence
What period of time can court consider for retroactive child support per 61.30
- date of filing modification or 24 months before filing for an initial determination
- the date a parent stopped exercising TS
The court entered a final judgment (in Feb. 2016) which did not award child support, but provided that either party could file a “motion” to seek child support without having to prove a substantial change in circumstances. In October n2016, the former wife filed her motion seeking child support and the magistrate granted the motion retroactively to the Feb. 2016 final judgment. Was it error to award retro to Feb 2016?
It is error to award retro for a period of time before the filing of mom’s motion
What is UIFSA
Uniform Interstate Family Support Act
What does UIFSA do
It identifies parameters under which a court may establish enforce and modify interstate child support cases
What does Chapter 409 do for cs actions
It authorizes DOR to step into the shoes of the recipient of any tempt cash or title IV-E assistance made to or for the benefit of any dependent child via an assignment of rights
What does Chapter 742 for cs actions
Provides for establishment of temp CS, modification of CS and final orders of CS - it also also for disestablishment of paternity or terminate of cs
How does Chapter 741 impact cs
Allows for establishment of temp cs in DV proceeding while DV injunction is in effect
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Can a spouse seek support without filing for divorce
61.09 - separate maintenance
If a person has ability to contribute to maintenance of his or her spouse or child and fails to do so, a spouse can apply to court for alimony & cs without filing for divorce
What must a court do if a spouse seeks adjudication of obligation to support spouse and minor child unconnected to DOM per 61.10
A spouse living in same state apart from their spouse and minor child can obtain an adjudication of obligation to maintain the spouse and minor child - court determine alimony & cs and establish a PP