Can You Modify Fort Lauderdale Alimony Payments If Living Expenses Increase After A Fort Lauderdale Divorce?
Alimony payments in Fort Lauderdale help protect your financial security after the breakup of a marriage. However, while the amount you received in your initial Broward County divorce order may have seemed reasonable at the time, increases in housing, groceries, and other costs can make it difficult to keep up.
Can you change the amount of spousal support payments to keep up with cost-of-living increases? You can modify alimony in Florida, but only under certain circumstances. Our experienced Fort Lauderdale alimony lawyer explains when courts will consider increasing your payments and the evidence you’ll need to prove your case.
When Broward County Courts Consider Modifying Alimony Amounts
Florida Statutes Section 61.14 allows alimony modification when there has been a substantial, material, and unanticipated change in circumstances since your original divorce judgment. The fact that prices have gone up usually isn’t enough. You need to show significant changes that were unforeseeable when the judge signed your initial alimony order.
When reviewing modification requests in Fort Lauderdale, Broward County family court judges typically examine several key factors:
- Significant increases in necessary living expenses beyond normal inflation, such as dramatic rent or health insurance premium jumps.
- Substantial changes in either spouse’s income.
- Loss of employment through no fault of your own, or serious health-related issues that prevent you from working.
- Retirement by either spouse, if reasonable based on age.
Minor cost-of-living increases or expected expenses that naturally rise over time typically won’t be enough to justify modification. Courts distinguish between predictable inflation and truly unanticipated financial hardships that create genuine need.
Steps to Take If Requesting An Alimony Increase in Fort Lauderdale Due To Increased Living Costs
The Consumer Price Index shows that the cost-of-living in Fort Lauderdale has steadily increased over the past year. If you are having trouble meeting basic needs on your current alimony, take these practical steps to protect yourself and build a strong case:
- Document increased costs in detail, including rental lease agreements, insurance premiums, medical bills, utilities, and grocery bills.
- Carefully review your original divorce judgment and settlement agreement for any specific terms about modification or cost-of-living adjustments.
- Avoid making informal changes to alimony amounts without court approval, even if your ex verbally agrees.
- Consider whether the change in your expenses is substantial and ongoing rather than temporary, and whether it was truly unforeseeable years ago.
To find out if your case meets the legal standards for alimony modification in Broward County, consult our experienced Fort Lauderdale divorce lawyer.
Contact Our Experienced Fort Lauderdale Divorce Lawyer To Request a Consultation
At Vanessa L. Prieto Law Offices, we help clients throughout Broward County get the maximum amount of alimony they need to make a fresh start post-divorce. If rising living expenses are creating real hardship in your life, we can review your case to determine if you are entitled to modifications. To schedule a consultation, call or contact our Fort Lauderdale divorce lawyer online today.
Sources:
leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0000-0099/0061/Sections/0061.14.html
browardclerk.org/Divisions/Family
bls.gov/regions/southeast/news-release/consumerpriceindex_miami.htm
