According to the Cornell University Law School’s Legal Information Institute, alimony payments are a form of monetary support. Alimony may be required when spouses cannot financially support themselves. Alimony payments are not, however, set in stone. As explained by the Florida Courts, alimony obligations may be modified in certain cases.
Florida Courts’ Supplemental Petition for Modification of Alimony notes alimony modifications may be possible in some cases. In order to successfully petition for a modification, the parties must have experienced a substantial change in circumstances. It is not possible to modify bridge-the-gap or lump sum alimony payments.
Filing a petition for modification requires the petitioner to provide copies of the final judgment, as well as any prior modifications. Petitioners must be able to explain their substantial change in circumstances. In addition, petitioners must state why these changes are sufficient to warrant a modification of their alimony requirements.
Temporary relief is also a possibility. The forms and requirements that must be submitted to receive temporary relief will depend on whether minor children are involved. Petitioners must request a specific monthly award amount and a reason for the court to order these payments. When minor children are involved, it is possible to request temporary child support awards.
Technical filing requirements may apply to the petitions described above. For example, due to a change in the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration, petitions, documents and pleadings must be filed electronically. Failing to follow these requirements may result in delays or dismissals of a petition.
