How Is Spousal Support Determined After a Long-Term Marriage?
Divorce after a long-term marriage brings up a lot of emotional and practical questions. One of the most common—and most stressful—issues is spousal support, also known as alimony.
Whether you’re the spouse who may be paying or the one potentially receiving support, it's natural to feel uncertain about what’s fair, how long payments might last, and how the court makes those decisions.
After a long-term marriage, spousal support often becomes a bigger factor than it would in shorter marriages. That's because there’s usually a deeper financial interdependence, and sometimes one spouse has spent years out of the workforce or earning less due to caregiving or other shared responsibilities.
Many of my clients have been in long-term marriages and want clear, reliable information about what to expect when it comes to spousal support.
If you're considering divorce after a long marriage and have questions about alimony, reach out to Marquez Law. As a Florida spousal support lawyer, I can help you take the next step with clarity and confidence.
What Counts as a Long-Term Marriage in Florida?
In Florida, the length of the marriage plays a major role in how spousal support is approached by the court. Florida Statutes specifically defines three categories of marriage duration:
Florida's classification of marriage lengths:
Short-term: Less than seven years
Moderate-term: Between seven and 17 years
Long-term: 17 years or more
Long-term marriages—those lasting 17 years or more—are where courts are most likely to consider permanent alimony, particularly when there is a significant disparity in income or one spouse has been financially dependent on the other.
Although nothing is guaranteed, the longer the marriage, the stronger the argument tends to be for longer-lasting support. That said, the court still considers multiple factors before making a final decision.
Types of Alimony Available in Long-Term Marriages
Florida law offers several types of spousal support, each with a different purpose. After a long-term marriage, the court may consider more than one type—or combine them depending on the circumstances.
Types of alimony available:
Bridge-the-gap alimony: Helps a spouse transition from married to single life; limited to 2 years.
Rehabilitative alimony: Supports a spouse while they gain education, training, or skills to become self-sufficient.
Durational alimony: Provides support for a set period of time—not to exceed the length of the marriage.
Permanent alimony: Typically awarded in long-term marriages when one spouse is unlikely to become self-supporting at a similar standard of living.
In long-term marriages, permanent alimony may be considered appropriate, especially if one spouse stayed home to care for children or supported the other spouse’s career over many years.
However, recent legal changes in Florida have made permanent alimony harder to obtain. The court must see clear evidence that the receiving spouse has limited ability to become self-supporting.
Statutory Factors the Court Considers
Florida law requires the court to evaluate a number of statutory factors before awarding any type of spousal support. These factors apply in all cases but tend to carry more weight in long-term marriages due to the shared history and financial entanglement.
Factors the court must consider:
Standard of living during the marriage
Length of the marriage
Age and health of both spouses
Earning capacity and employability
Educational background and time needed to gain employment
Financial resources of each spouse
Responsibilities toward minor children
Tax consequences of the support award
Any history of domestic violence
In my experience, the standard of living during marriage is often central to the discussion in long-term cases. The court generally aims to prevent one spouse from experiencing a dramatic financial drop while the other maintains the same quality of life.
Still, ability to pay matters. Even if a spouse “should” receive alimony, the other spouse must be financially capable of providing it.
How Age and Health Impact Alimony Decisions
After a long-term marriage, spouses are often in their 50s, 60s, or older. At that point, re-entering the workforce may not be feasible—especially if one spouse hasn’t worked in decades. The court takes this into serious account.
How age and health can influence alimony:
Limited work prospects: Older spouses may not have the time or opportunity to become financially independent.
Chronic health conditions: Medical issues can reduce earning ability or require costly care.
Retirement planning: The court may examine whether both spouses planned for retirement together, and how that plays into current finances.
I’ve worked with clients who left the workforce early in the marriage to raise a family, only to find themselves with no retirement savings of their own after divorce. In those cases, the court is more inclined to award long-term or permanent support—especially when employment isn’t a realistic option.
How the Length of the Marriage Affects Duration of Alimony
In Florida, the length of alimony is closely tied to the length of the marriage, especially in cases involving durational alimony. But in long-term marriages, the court may go beyond a simple formula.
Duration factors the court may weigh:
Marriages over 17 years are eligible for permanent alimony in certain situations.
Durational alimony can last up to the total years of the marriage—but rarely exceeds that.
Bridge-the-gap or rehabilitative alimony may be used as temporary support before longer-term awards are finalized.
I often tell clients that even in long marriages, the court may opt for durational alimony if the receiving spouse is still employable or has strong financial assets. However, if age or health issues are involved, permanent alimony becomes more likely.
Marital Contributions and Sacrifices
Florida courts give significant weight to each spouse’s contributions during the marriage—financial and non-financial alike. This includes roles like homemaking, raising children, or supporting the other spouse’s career.
Types of contributions the court recognizes:
Homemaking and childcare: Especially when one spouse stayed home or worked part-time for the benefit of the family.
Supporting a spouse’s career or education: Such as relocating, funding schooling, or managing the household alone.
Sacrificing career opportunities: When one spouse gave up promotions or education to support the family unit.
One of the most important aspects I emphasize with clients is documenting these sacrifices. Courts take them seriously, especially in long-term marriages where years of unpaid contributions supported the other spouse’s success.
Modifying or Terminating Alimony in Long-Term Marriages
Even in long-term marriages, alimony can be modified or terminated later—if circumstances change significantly.
Situations where modification may be possible:
Retirement of the paying spouse
Remarriage or cohabitation of the receiving spouse
Significant change in income or health
Death of either spouse
Some clients assume permanent alimony really means “forever,” but the law allows for changes when life evolves. If the receiving spouse starts earning more or moves in with a new partner, the paying spouse can request a reduction or termination.
Likewise, retirement is a common reason for modification. The court will evaluate whether the retirement is reasonable and how it affects the ability to continue payments.
Reach Out to a Compassionate Divorce Attorney Today
Spousal support after a long-term marriage can affect your financial stability for years to come. Florida courts take the issue seriously, especially when one spouse has been financially dependent or unable to build their own income over time.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, and every case turns on the details—how long the marriage lasted, what sacrifices were made, what each spouse is capable of now, and what’s truly fair given the history of the relationship.
If you're facing divorce after a long-term marriage and have questions about spousal support, reach out to Marquez Law.
I offer family law consultations in both Orlando and West Palm Beach, and serve clients throughout Central and South Florida, including Orange County, Osceola County, Seminole County, Palm Beach County, and Broward County. Let’s talk about your future and how to move forward with confidence.
