Alimony mediation in Florida is a confidential, certified process in which both spouses negotiate spousal support terms — type, amount, and duration — without a judge applying the caps in Florida Statute § 61.08 to their case. 

Florida’s 2023 alimony reform, effective July 1, 2023, under SB 1416, eliminated permanent alimony and introduced durational caps tied to the length of the marriage.

Ann M. Goade, Esq., serves families across the Treasure Coast as a Florida Supreme Court Certified mediator who facilitates alimony agreements that both parties control.

Key Takeaways

• The 2023 alimony reform under Florida Statute § 61.08, effective July 1, 2023, eliminated permanent alimony for all divorce petitions filed on or after that date — leaving four current types: temporary, bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, and durational.
• Durational alimony under the 2023 reform is capped at 50% of marriage length for short-term marriages (under 10 years), 60% for moderate-term marriages (10–20 years), and 75% for long-term marriages (20+ years) — and the amount cannot exceed 35% of the net income differential between spouses.
• Mediation gives both spouses control over alimony type, amount, and duration — so neither party is bound by a judge’s application of the statutory formula when both parties can reach a negotiated Mediated Settlement Agreement.
• Ann Goade has resolved alimony disputes across Martin, Palm Beach, St. Lucie, and Indian River counties exclusively through certified family law mediation since 1993.

What Did Florida’s 2023 Alimony Reform Change?

Florida’s 2023 alimony reform under SB 1416 — signed June 30, 2023, and effective July 1, 2023 — made the most significant changes to Florida Statute § 61.08 in decades. SB 1416 applies to all divorce petitions filed or pending on or after July 1, 2023.

The four key changes Treasure Coast families need to understand:

• Florida eliminated permanent alimony. Florida courts can no longer award permanent alimony in any case filed on or after July 1, 2023. Existing permanent alimony orders from pre-2023 divorces remain in effect — though Florida Statute § 61.14 allows either party to petition for modification.
• Florida capped durational alimony duration. The maximum duration of durational alimony is now capped by the length of the marriage — 50% for marriages under 10 years, 60% for marriages of 10–20 years, and 75% for marriages of 20 or more years.
• Florida added a 35% net-income cap. Alimony under the reformed statute cannot exceed the recipient’s reasonable need or 35% of the net income differential between both spouses under Florida Statute § 61.30(2) and (3) — whichever figure is lower.
• Florida clarified retirement-based modification. Florida Statute § 61.14(1)(c) now allows a paying spouse to seek alimony reduction or termination upon reaching normal retirement age as defined by the Social Security Administration, with a petition filed no earlier than 6 months before retirement.

What Are the Current Types of Alimony in Florida?

Florida courts can award four types of alimony as of July 1, 2023, under Florida Statute § 61.08, and judges must make written findings of fact explaining which type is awarded and why.

Type	Purpose	Duration Limit	Modifiable?
Temporary	Supports the lower-earning spouse during divorce proceedings	Ends at the final judgment	Yes
Bridge-the-gap	Addresses short-term, identifiable financial needs post-divorce	Maximum 2 years	No — not modifiable in amount or duration
Rehabilitative	Funds a specific plan to help a spouse become self-supporting through education or job training	Maximum 5 years	Yes — if circumstances change or the plan is completed early
Durational	Provides support for a set period based on marriage length	Capped at 50%/60%/75% of marriage length by category	Yes — on a substantial change in circumstances

Courts may award more than one type of alimony simultaneously when written findings support the combination — so a Treasure Coast spouse may receive both rehabilitative and durational alimony in a single dissolution order.

How Much Does Alimony Mediation Cost in Florida Compared to Litigation?

Alimony mediation in Florida costs significantly less than contested alimony litigation — private family mediation runs $150 to $400 per party per session as of 2026, while a fully contested alimony dispute through the Florida circuit court typically costs $15,000 to $30,000 or more per spouse in attorney fees before trial.

The cost comparison for Treasure Coast families:

• Private mediation with Ann Goade: $150–$400 per party per session as of 2026 — fees split between both spouses, no per-hearing attorney billing
• 19th Judicial Circuit court mediation program: $60 per person per session for couples earning under $50,000 combined annually, $120 per person per session for couples earning $50,000–$100,000 combined, under Florida Statute § 44.108; available only to families whose combined gross income does not exceed $100,000 as of 2026
• Contested alimony litigation: $15,000–$30,000 or more per spouse in attorney fees — billed hourly through every motion, hearing, and appeal the dispute generates

Alimony sessions that involve contested income evidence and living expense review typically require 3 to 4 hours of mediation time — so a private alimony mediation session with Ann Goade costs both spouses a combined total well under $2,000 in most cases, compared to the same dispute consuming weeks of litigation at $300–$500 per attorney hour per side.

What Factors Does a Florida Court Consider in Awarding Alimony?

Florida Statute § 61.08 requires a Florida circuit court judge to consider the following factors before awarding any form of alimony, and a mediator facilitates negotiation around the same factors so both parties reach a private agreement without judicial determination:

• Each spouse’s income, assets, and financial resources
• Each spouse’s earning capacity, educational level, vocational skills, and employability
• Duration of the marriage
• Standard of living established during the marriage
• Each spouse’s contribution to the marriage, including homemaking, child-rearing, and career building on behalf of the other spouse
• Responsibilities each spouse will have toward minor children after dissolution.
• Tax treatment and consequences of any alimony award
• All sources of income available to either party

Florida Statute § 61.08 also permits the court to consider adultery and its economic impact in determining alimony—a factor that can make contested alimony litigation unpredictable —and one that divorce financial mediation removes from the public court record under Florida Statute § 44.405’s confidentiality protections.

Why Do Treasure Coast Families Use Mediation for Alimony Disputes?

Alimony disputes in Martin, Palm Beach, St. Lucie, and Indian River county circuit courts move through the 15th and 19th Judicial Circuits on a court-controlled timeline — and a judge applying the 2023 statutory formula may produce an outcome neither spouse anticipated.

Mediation gives both spouses the following advantages over contested alimony litigation:

• Outcome control. Both parties negotiate type, amount, and duration directly — so the final Mediated Settlement Agreement reflects what both spouses agreed to, not what a judge calculated under the statutory caps.
• Confidentiality. Florida Statute § 44.405 prohibits disclosure of mediation communications in any subsequent proceeding — so income figures, asset disclosures, and negotiating positions discussed in Ann Goade’s sessions never enter the public court record.
• Speed. Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.700 requires the first mediation conference within 60 days of a referral order — and private mediation with Ann Goade can be scheduled without waiting on court program availability, so Treasure Coast families can resolve alimony disputes on a timeline they control.

Her 30-year exclusive family mediation practice means every alimony session is conducted by a practitioner who has facilitated hundreds of alimony agreements across the Treasure Coast — with no financial stake in the outcome and no active litigation practice creating a conflict. 

The 2023 reform created more formula certainty — but not more agreement. Start mediation with Ann Goade today — call (772) 288-7275 or email info@anngoade.com.

How Does Alimony Mediation Work With Ann Goade?

Ann Goade conducts alimony mediation sessions using the same structured certified process applied to every Treasure Coast family case — so both spouses understand what to expect before the first session begins.

• Scheduling. Families schedule by calling (772) 288-7275, emailing info@anngoade.com, or completing the online scheduling form. No court referral order is required for private mediation.
• Financial disclosure. Florida Family Law Rule 12.285 requires both parties to exchange mandatory financial disclosure documents — including income, assets, debts, and expenses — before or during mediation. Ann Goade confirms mandatory disclosure requirements with both parties before any session begins.
• Session. Ann Goade facilitates joint and private caucus sessions at 3576 SW Sawgrass Villas Dr, Palm City, FL 34990, or through virtual mediation for families who prefer remote sessions. Alimony type, amount, duration, and modification triggers are addressed directly — so both parties leave with a clear written agreement or a defined next step.
• Mediated Settlement Agreement. Ann Goade prepares a written Mediated Settlement Agreement that covers all agreed-upon alimony terms. The agreement is submitted to the appropriate circuit court — 19th Judicial Circuit for Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River county families, 15th Judicial Circuit for Palm Beach County families — for judicial review and approval.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is alimony mediation in Florida?

Alimony mediation in Florida is a confidential, certified process in which both spouses negotiate the type, amount, and duration of spousal support with a certified mediator, without a judge applying the statutory formula caps in Florida Statute § 61.08 to their specific case facts.

Did Florida eliminate permanent alimony?

Florida eliminated permanent alimony effective July 1, 2023, under SB 1416, which amended Florida Statute § 61.08. Permanent alimony is no longer available for divorce petitions filed or pending on or after July 1, 2023. Existing permanent alimony orders remain in effect but may be modified under Florida Statute § 61.14.

What types of alimony are available in Florida in 2026?

Florida courts award four types of alimony as of 2026 under Florida Statute § 61.08: temporary alimony during proceedings, bridge-the-gap for up to 2 years, rehabilitative for up to 5 years under a specific plan, and durational alimony capped by marriage length.

How long can durational alimony last in Florida?

Durational alimony under Florida Statute § 61.08 is capped at 50% of marriage length for marriages under 10 years, 60% for marriages of 10 to 20 years, and 75% for marriages of 20 or more years. The amount cannot exceed 35% of the net income differential between spouses.

Can a paying spouse modify alimony when they retire in Florida?

Florida Statute § 61.14(1)(c) allows a paying spouse to petition for alimony reduction or termination upon reaching normal retirement age as defined by the Social Security Administration. A petition may be filed no earlier than 6 months before retirement.

Does mediation keep alimony disputes private in Florida?

Florida Statute § 44.405 protects all communications made during a certified mediation session from disclosure in any subsequent proceeding — so income figures, asset disclosures, and negotiating positions discussed in Ann Goade’s sessions do not enter the public court record.

Can both spouses agree on more alimony than the Florida formula allows?

Both spouses can agree in a Mediated Settlement Agreement to alimony terms that differ from what a Florida circuit court judge would award under the statutory formula — because mediation produces a negotiated agreement, not a court-imposed order. Florida courts approve agreements reflecting both parties’ informed consent.

Does Ann Goade handle alimony mediation for all Treasure Coast counties?

Ann Goade handles alimony mediation for families in Martin, Palm Beach, St. Lucie, and Indian River counties through in-person sessions at her Palm City office and virtual mediation statewide. The same certified neutral process applies across the 15th and 19th Judicial Circuits.