Although some married couples stay together after the discovery that one spouse had been unfaithful, there are many marriages that end due to adultery. Depending on the situation and length of the marriage, the actions of the cheating spouse may be taken into consideration when deciding on spousal alimony for residents of Florida, although it is not a major consideration.
While some couples honor marriage as a monogamous relationship, Health Research Funding shows that in 41% of marriages, one of the spouses admits to being unfaithful, although the majority of infidelity cases remain a secret. Of the couples in which they both know about the affair, 69% of them end up separating or getting a divorce.
According to The Florida Legislature Online Sunshine, adultery may play a role in the determination of how much alimony the spouse may receive, but it is not the only factor. First, the judge determines if one spouse has a need for support, and then decides if the other spouse is financially able to provide it. If so, the court takes other factors into consideration and some of these include:
- Length of the marriage
- Age and conditions of each spouse
- Standard of living in marriage
- Education levels and earning potential of each party
- Financial resources of each spouse
- The contribution, both inside and outside the home, of each party during the marriage
Alimony payments may be in lump sums or periodic, and the court may order them for a certain duration of time or permanently. Alimony terminates upon the remarriage of the recipient or death of either party.
