No Alimony Reform This Year In Florida

March 17, 2014

Backers of an alimony overhaul vetoed last year by Gov. Rick Scott have scrapped their efforts to revive the measure.

Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, told The News Service of Florida on Tuesday she and her House counterpart Ritch Workman, R-Melbourne, have given up on their plan to reform the state’s alimony laws.

Last year, the two sponsored a measure that did away with permanent alimony and would have created new legal standards based on the length of marriages. Scott, who is seeking re-election this year, vetoed the measure in part because of concerns that it would have applied retroactively.

The group Family Law Reform, which has been pushing the alimony changes, issued a press release in October saying it was working with Scott and the sponsors to come up with a new plan that would have removed the retroactivity provision. But there won’t be any election-year measure.

“We tried to get a deal,” Stargel said. “We got some language we thought people liked and started vetting it. … I just didn’t want to have a food fight this year so we just said scrap it. We’ll push it another year.”

by The News Service of Florida

Comments

6 Responses to “No Alimony Reform This Year In Florida”

  1. Claire Hogan on March 19th, 2014 10:52 pm

    Divorce should not be allowed when the couple have minor children. Place the needs of the children first. Raise your children, then divorce.

  2. jcellops on March 18th, 2014 3:14 pm

    since this article pertains to “alimony”, ill add my thoughts….for the most part, women do not need to depend on an ongoing alimony check from the ex husband…they need to get their heads on straight and go back to school, if necessary, and create their own future….same for men who ask for alimony from their ex wives…maybe a year, if they have custody of the children, or are in school- after that, cut it off! …. i really like harveys idea of mandating a portion of the child support money to go toward a joint college fund for the kid(s)…the other parent should also be required to add to the college fund…..it will give the kids something to look forward to as they near graduation….should the child decide to forego a college education, then the parents can split the $….heres what im doing for my 4 grandkids: when each one graduates from high school, ill give them $5,000.00 for college ONLY…..but, they have to go directly into college OR, its forfeited and….grannys going on a cruise!…i realize that $5,000.00 wont provide for their entire college expenses, but…it will be a start…..the young adult will have to invest their own time, energy and creativity in funding their education, as well….my grandfather gave myself and my siblings $500.00 upon graduation…i utilized mine on college and that got me started..i think that its fine to help some- but, they too have to struggle some to fully appreciate their accomplishments.- they dont need to have a mindset of entitlement or ongoing handouts.

  3. Concerned also on March 18th, 2014 9:32 am

    I totally agree with Harvey. If you divorce, split things up and go your way. So many women want to just rip men apart. And sometimes vise versa. Take them for everything they have. This child support sysytem really sucks. Men seem to have NO rights, there are some that can’t even survive on the remaining money after all the child support is given. and the woman is making great money, living in a nice house, driving a nice car. And the courts, just continue to give, give and give. And the child still suffers because the mom spends the CHILD support on partying and she looks good. IT’s time the system helped the man out.. Putting them in jail, well that gets you nothing.
    Go to the 50/50 rule and no one has to pay. Just love the children and take care of them as they need to be. They didn’t ask to come into this world, nor do they need to suffer from the adult mistakes.
    OH, and I am a divorced mother of 2, that raised her children on no support. And they are grown fine citizens today with children of there own… WAKE UP court system…..

  4. John on March 17th, 2014 9:39 pm

    Govern Scott is not the only one to blame, the State of Florida Child Support System and Ailmony are all corrupt including the Judges and the Court system. The State Child Support is ready to prove that all dads are dead beat dads, when there are just as many dead beat moms out there. They are out there just to get them money no matter what lies they tell in court and the Judges give whatever the State ask for whether it’s right or wrong. Men have to prove everything and women don’t have to prove nothing. The Govern, Judges and lawmakers all need to be voted out!! The state has to much power over the courts

  5. Harvey on March 17th, 2014 2:59 pm

    I think a woman can get out and earn her own living ,, same with a man,, don’t grand me the bull crap your a house wife and mother. Mine raised 5 on her own after the divorce and never recieved a dime ,, split the assets and go away ,, no free rides ,, while on it. I think a law that 50% of child support shi old be placed in savings for the child’s collage at the time needed. To many women and their boyfriends and new husband get a free ride off that money ,, this applies to men recieving it too

  6. Jerry davis on March 17th, 2014 10:47 am

    Just remember when you Vote, do not vote to reelect Scott.