Hundreds Expected at Family Law Reform Alimony summit in Orlando on August 17th

The push for significant changes to Florida’s alimony laws is gearing back up after the 2013 legislative session ended in a veto from Governor Rick Scott, despite having passed in both House and Congress.  The August 17^th, 2013 Alimony Summit will take place in Orlando ahead of the 2014 session.  See the below press release issued by Family Law Reform.  Check back with us for updates on this and many more family law issues.

Hundreds Expected at Family Law Reform Alimony Summit in Orlando on August 17th

Orlando, FL. – August 1, 2013 – Many Family Law Reform members from all over Florida and the sponsors of the Florida alimony reform bill will rally at a Summit at the Shingle Creek Hotel and Conference Center in Orlando to support efforts to do away with Florida ’s antiquated alimony laws. The goal of the August 17th Summit is to gear up for the 2014 legislative session and grab the attention of Florida’s politicians to present a bill that will pass in both houses and receive Gov. Scott’s seal of approval.

In 2013, the alimony reform bill passed in both the House and the Senate, but when it landed on Gov. Scott’s desk, he vetoed it saying that the retroactivity portion was unfair.

“Our goal is to help, not only those spouses who divorce in the future, but also those individuals who currently pay abusive alimony orders and can’t afford to do so,” said Family Law Reform President Alan Frisher. “Current alimony law in Florida causes immense hardship for those who must support an ex-spouse until death, regardless of circumstance and too many alimony payers are forced into bankruptcy and insolvency. But when life changes and they need to modify payments, the courts won’t allow for it.”

As this bill is re-drafted for the 2014 legislative session, Family Law Reform will work to include these key elements:

• Removal of permanent alimony from present statutes
• The need for the alimony payer to have the right to retire at Federal Retirement age or standard retirement age for ‘high risk’ professions
• A defined amount based on a percentage that is fair, and averages incomes for both spouses
• Second spouses’ income shall not be used to calculate an upward modification of alimony
• A definition for what constitutes ‘A Substantial Change of Circumstance.”

“I sponsored this alimony reform legislation, because I believe we need a fair way to deal with this very emotional issue,” said Sen. Kelli Stargel (R-Lakeland). “As we have gone through this process we have strived to create a bill that addresses the concerns of many people.  Many agree that the current system is broken and bad for families, especially those with children. This bill creates guidelines for our judges to follow, but maintains judicial discretion.”

“This is not an anti-alimony, anti-spouse or anti-woman bill. This is a bill that simply clarifies and codifies the law to make sure alimony is fair to all involved,” said Rep. Ritch Workman (R-Melbourne). “I don’t hate alimony. I hate the abuse of it and this bill prohibits the abuse of it.”