State alimony comparison
Recommended workflow
Start with the legal differences below, run one shared estimate scenario, then open each state guide for the detailed framework courts may apply.
Use this side-by-side data view as a starting point, then review the linked state law guides and calculators for deeper planning context.
| Factor | Florida | Vermont |
|---|---|---|
| Support term | alimony | spousal maintenance |
| Formula profile | statutory-net | formula |
| Property system | equitable | equitable |
| Legal framework | Temporary alimony may be awarded while the divorce is pending to maintain financial stability during litigation. Final alimony awards are governed by Florida Statutes § 61.08 and require findings regarding both need and ability to pay before any award can be entered. | Temporary maintenance may be awarded while the divorce or legal separation case is pending to address immediate support needs. Final maintenance is governed by 15 V.S.A. § 752, which includes statutory factors and advisory guideline ranges for amount and duration. |
| Statute citation | Florida Statutes § 61.08 (2026) | 15 V.S.A. § 752; 15 V.S.A. § 758 |
Best for
Relocation planning, negotiation prep, and state-by-state estimate checks.
Use with
Florida and Vermont calculators for same-fact estimates.
Remember
Support outcomes still depend on judge discretion, facts, and local procedure.
Same-facts estimate
Use the same income and marriage facts to see how the planning estimate changes between Florida and Vermont. This is educational, not a court prediction.
Statutory durational-alimony estimate: the lesser of the recipient's reasonable need or 35% of the difference between the parties' net incomes, adjusted conservatively for marriage length and ability to pay.
$1,750/mo
Planning range: $1,400-$2,100/mo
Duration: About 9 years
Educational estimate using Vermont statutory guideline ranges: a conservative percentage of the difference between the parties' gross incomes, adjusted by marriage length. The base estimate uses 24% of the income difference, with lower multipliers for shorter marriages and higher multipliers for longer marriages.
$1,600/mo
Planning range: $1,280-$1,920/mo
Duration: About 8 years
Florida: Florida no longer awards permanent alimony for initial petitions governed by the current statute. Courts may award temporary, bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, or durational alimony only after making specific factual findings that the requesting spouse has actual need and the other spouse has ability to pay. Durational alimony is capped at reasonable need or 35% of the parties' net-income difference, whichever is less. Vermont: Vermont authorizes rehabilitative or long-term maintenance when the requesting spouse lacks sufficient income or property to meet reasonable needs and cannot support themselves at the marital standard of living through appropriate employment, or is the custodian of a child of the parties. Vermont law includes maintenance guideline ranges based on marriage length, income difference, and duration, but courts retain discretion and must consider statutory factors.
Florida: Florida classifies marriages as short-term if less than 10 years, moderate-term if 10 to less than 20 years, and long-term if 20 years or more. Bridge-the-gap alimony may not exceed 2 years. Rehabilitative alimony may not exceed 5 years and requires a specific rehabilitative plan. Durational alimony may not be awarded after a marriage lasting less than 3 years. Durational alimony may not exceed 50% of a short-term marriage, 60% of a moderate-term marriage, or 75% of a long-term marriage, except under exceptional circumstances proven by clear and convincing evidence. Vermont: Vermont's statutory guideline ranges connect duration to marriage length. For marriages under 5 years, maintenance may be none or short-term up to 1 year. For 5-10 years, duration is generally 20-50% of the marriage length. For 10-15 years, duration is generally 40-60% of the marriage length. For 15-20 years, duration is generally 40-70% of the marriage length. For marriages of 20 years or more, the guideline indicates approximately 45% of the marriage length, with awards potentially lasting 9-20+ years depending on the case.
Florida: Most alimony awards may be modified upon a substantial, material, and unanticipated change in circumstances. The party requesting modification must demonstrate that the statutory standard has been satisfied. Vermont: Vermont maintenance may be modified under 15 V.S.A. § 758 when a real, substantial, and unanticipated change of circumstances is shown. Courts may review changes in income, need, employment, health, or ability to pay.
Florida awards alimony based on the receiving spouse's need and the paying spouse's ability to pay. Following major statutory reforms, Florida eliminated permanent alimony and now relies primarily on bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, and durational forms of support. Courts must evaluate statutory factors before determining amount and duration.
Eligibility: A spouse seeking alimony must demonstrate a genuine financial need, while the other spouse must have the ability to contribute support. Courts examine income, assets, liabilities, earning capacity, and the marital standard of living. Qualification depends on the total circumstances rather than marriage length alone.
Vermont uses the term maintenance and allows rehabilitative or long-term payments when the requesting spouse lacks sufficient income or property and cannot meet reasonable needs. Vermont provides advisory maintenance guidelines based on marriage length, gross-income differences, and duration ranges. Courts may consider the guidelines along with statutory factors and may deviate when appropriate.
Eligibility: A spouse may qualify if they lack sufficient income, property, or both to provide for reasonable needs and are unable to support themselves through appropriate employment at the marital standard of living. Courts evaluate financial resources, education, training time, marriage length, age, health, earning capacity, and the payer's ability to meet personal needs while paying maintenance. Eligibility is not automatic even when guideline ranges exist.
Alimony rules vary by state. Comparing two states helps readers understand differences in formulas, duration ranges, eligibility rules, modification standards, and judicial discretion before deeper research.
No. SettleCompass comparison pages are educational planning resources only and do not replace advice from a licensed family law attorney.
Yes. State formulas, income caps, duration rules, statutory factors, and judge discretion can produce different outcomes from the same basic facts.
Use state-specific calculator pages to model the same income and marriage-length assumptions across both states.
