Sometimes we hear “That credit card is in her name so she keeps that debt.” Or “the 401-k is my name, so he can’t get that, right?” While either outcome may occur, it may also not be the case. Florida law requires that both debts and assets be equitably distributed between both parties. With today’s economic circumstances, it is not unusual for the debts to outweigh the assets. At the end of the distribution the Court is generally aiming to evenly divide the net worth of the marital estate. So title of an asset does not control who that asset (or debt) is given to.

The statute provides that the Court may consider the “reasonable preference of the child, if the court deems the child to be of sufficient intelligence, understanding, and experience to express a preference” in making a time-sharing ruling. Therefore while the decision of a child is one of the listed factors in Chapter 61.13, it is one among many factors and not necessarily the deciding factor. Moreover there is no language in the statute that sets a “magic” age at which a child is deemed to be of sufficient intelligence. As we all know every child’s maturity and intellect is different and so that decision is made by the Court on a case by case basis.

Generally permanent periodic alimony is considered in long term marriages. To make such a determination the Court examines one party’s actual need and the other party’s ability to pay. In addition to permanent alimony there are other forms including temporary support (during pendency of the litigation), bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, durational.