Spousal Support

Boca Raton Spousal Support Attorney

Divorce in Boca Raton is often a complex process of resolving various financial issues between divorcing spouses. While property division is often the most contentious of the financial matters that divorcing couples must resolve, it is also possible for some divorcing spouses to face ongoing financial arrangements with their soon-to-be exes.
Legal Counsel for Boca Raton Spousal Support Disputes

Johnson O’Keefe has helped many Boca Raton, FL, clients through complex divorce cases, including those involving high-net-worth couples, challenging property division, and spousal support disputes. While many judges in equitable distribution states like Florida strive to ensure the fairest possible division of marital assets in the cases they oversee, spousal support is a necessary element of many divorces resolved in the Boca Raton family court.

boca raton

HELPING YOU MOVE FORWARD

Navigating Your Future with Experience and Care

GET IN TOUCH

Our Attorneys

Meet Your Legal Team

At Johnson O’Keefe, our team of skilled and understanding legal professionals proudly provides comprehensive and efficient legal services for all clients.
MEET THE FULL TEAM
Myles S. Johnson Photo

Myles S. Johnson

MEMBER

Genet T. Johnson

MEMBER

Shannon M. O'Keefe

CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER, MEMBER

Taylor K. Brice

MANAGING PARTNER, MEMBER

Jessica Lasky

DOAD, MANAGING PARTNER, MEMBER

Anne E. Hinds

MANAGING PARTNER, MEMBER

Myron L. Latney Jr.

MANAGING PARTNER, MEMBER

Understanding Spousal Support in Boca Raton Divorce

Every state uses different statutes to resolve property division and other financial aspects of divorce, and Boca Raton upholds an equitable distribution law pertaining to property division. This means divorcing spouses are expected to divide marital property in the fairest possible manner. Unfortunately, many find this to be very open to interpretation, and it’s common for divorcing spouses to enter their divorce proceedings holding misconceptions about how spousal support or alimony works.

There is a baseline formula used in many Boca Raton spousal support determinations, but it’s vital to remember that many factors can influence the outcome of any alimony determination in Boca Raton, and this formula should only be used for a baseline estimate of alimony that might be paid in a particular divorce. The formula is one-third of the higher-earning spouse’s annual income reduced by one-quarter of the lower-earning spouse’s income. In a divorce where one spouse earns $90,000 per year and the other earns $40,000 per year, the calculation would be ($90,000/3) minus ($40,000/4), or $30,000 minus $10,000 for a $20,000 yearly support obligation.

The amount paid hinges on the difference between the divorcing spouses’ incomes, job prospects, separate property ownership, child custody rights, and various other factors. In most divorces, alimony will be awarded based on the time the marriage lasted, usually continuing for about half of the length of the marriage.

Adjusting Spousal Support & Addressing Violations

If you are required to pay spousal support, it is essential that you fully understand the terms and conditions of your court order. Failure to pay in full and/or on time can lead to various penalties, from contempt of court to fines, wage garnishment, or even incarceration until owed support is repaid. In addition, if you encounter any unexpected change in your life that prevents you from meeting your support obligations, it is vital to address it as soon as possible with the help of an attorney. The family court system of Boca Raton provides a modification system that allows for reasonable changes to standing family court orders.

The modification process is relatively straightforward, but it is still a good idea to have legal counsel you can trust to file your petition and prepare for your hearing. If you have recently lost your job due to forces beyond your control, suffered a severe injury resulting in disability, or experienced any other significant change in your life that impacts your ability to meet your support obligation, a Boca Raton spousal support attorney can help you compile a strong petition for modification. You may also need an attorney’s assistance to file contempt proceedings against your ex if you are owed spousal support and they have neglected to pay you correctly.

Terminating Actions & Other Important Details About Alimony

Every alimony order issued in the Boca Raton family courts will include clear terms and conditions regarding the paying spouse’s obligations. The order will dictate how much they need to pay, how often payments are due, and what they must do if they have a temporary issue preventing them from paying on time. Life can be unpredictable, and spousal support terms are typically flexible in allowing paying spouses to address unforeseen financial problems, but there are severe penalties for intentional violation of one’s spousal support obligations.

Recipients of alimony must also abide by specific terms and conditions. Alimony will continue until the order’s specified expiration date or the recipient completes a specified “terminating action.” This could be moving in with a new partner, marrying a new spouse, or experiencing a drastic improvement in their financial situation. Their alimony order will include terms for reporting any such changes, and they must always meet these obligations.

If an alimony recipient completes a terminating action, the paying spouse is no longer required to make spousal support payments. If the recipient intentionally concealed a terminating action to continue to collect alimony illegally, they can face criminal charges and owe civil damages to their ex. It is never worth violating any standing family court order in Boca Raton, as doing so will invariably incur severe penalties.

Common Challenges & Misconceptions About Spousal Support

Spousal support can often be misunderstood, leading to unrealistic expectations and disputes. One common misconception is that alimony is guaranteed. In reality, the court decides based on numerous factors. Understanding this can help both parties approach the topic more realistically.

Another challenge involves potential changes in life circumstances that can affect one’s ability to pay or entitlement to receive spousal support. For example, if the paying spouse loses their job or the receiving spouse gains significant employment, it can necessitate a reevaluation of the support terms. Proper legal guidance can help navigate these changes effectively.

Spousal Support Frequently Asked Questions

“Johnson O'Keefe is #1 for supporting families.”

Johnson O’Keefe has the greatest Attorneys and staff in Colorado State. I recommend every family to choose this Law Firm. Attorney Genet Johnson and Myles Johnson has profound knowledge of the Law, and they can help individuals to have balance, peace of mind, avoid issues, assist with problems, work on important aspects of communication/listening, each solution carefully crafted, negotiate, prompted responding, support their clients, manage day to day operations, efficient, professional, prepare in a timely matter, reliable, trust worthy, explain everything before proceeding, dedicated, and patience.

– Cierra

“Professional, caring, organized.”

Amazing law firm. They will represent your best interests! They communicate well with you and are straight forward with everything from rates to the legal process. Myles Johnson is a experienced, knowledgeable, well-versed in the laws as they pertain in each county throughout the State of Colorado. As a client, I highly recommend Johnson O’Keefe!!

– Caleb

“Very professional, and caring.”

Helped me through a difficult divorce and made what I thought was going to be an impossible process so much easier. Everything was handled well, they listened to all my concerns, and responded in a timely manner. I would highly recommend using Johnson O’Keefe, they are amazing!

– Sonja

“Myles Johnson is an excellent divorce attorney – the Best of the Best!”

I HIGHLY recommend him and his legal team of paralegals and staff because I had a great experience with them. Myles is smart and savvy and fully committed to his clients as an attorney and mediator. He represented me in my divorce and when we went to court his talent and expertise rose to the top giving me confidence and inspiration during this hardship. I am so glad I had Johnson O’Keefe at my side! It made my divorce a little bit easier knowing this group had my back and worked hard to get me what was fair and equitable with the utmost care and concern for me as a client and most importantly as an individual.

– M.J.

“Myles is genuine and professional, and I could not recommend him enough.”

Myles was excellent during my divorce and custody case. I had a very high-stress, and complicated situation, and not only was he efficient, but he kept me at ease throughout the entire process.

– Former Client

“Johnson O'Keefe and in particular Elizabeth Gregory was phenomenal with their representation of my case.”

I was in a very difficult custody/child support dispute with my ex-spouse. Working with her was such a wonderful experience, kept our goals at the top of every conversation, knew all points and avenues that we could take, never lead us in the wrong direction They worked tirelessly on my case and the outcome was exactly what I expected! I would recommend this firm to anyone who is going through a family law issue.

– Liz

“My goals and the safety of my children were always the priority to the JOK team.”

I called Johnson Law Group extremely frustrated and stressed with the process of my custody case. From the consultation to every conversation after, Elizabeth went out of her way to make sure that i was comfortable with all the matters and decisions. I highly recommend Elizabeth and the whole Johnson O’Keefe team to anyone going through custody matters. Elizabeth, Cassidy, and Paola were amazing, and made me feel like i was a friend, not just a client. I would happily use them again if needed.

– Patricia

“Myles was firm and consistent while being very professional with the opposition.”

Myles and his firm did an excellent job on my case. He helped me settle a financial dispute with my ex-wife concerning my retirement income. Myles was a good communicator and responded to questions and concerns promptly. I will definitely call him if I am ever in need of a lawyer.

– Rob

Read All Reviews

Find Legal Counsel Today

Time is a critical factor in any divorce. If you face complex financial issues in your impending dissolution, it’s vital to have legal counsel you can trust readily available to assist you. The sooner you connect with a trustworthy Boca Raton spousal support attorney, the more time they have to work on your case, helping you reach the best outcome possible.

Alimony can be a very contentious issue in any divorce, and Johnson O’Keefe has the professional resources and experience you need on your side to reach a favorable conclusion to your situation. In addition, Johnson O’Keefe can review the details of your financial issues and help you make more informed decisions as you progress through the Boca Raton family court.

Contact us today to schedule your free consultation with a Boca Raton spousal support attorney. 

Individualized Attention

Just as each family is unique, so is each family legal matter. We always take the time to completely understand your situation so that we can tailor our advice and strategy accordingly.

Highly Recommended

Our clients often take the time to write and thank us, not only for the results we have earned for them but also for the respect we’ve shown them.

Supportive Counsel

We never lose sight of the fact that divorce and other household conflicts can feel overwhelming. Our family lawyers will answer all of your questions to ease your burden in this difficult time.