Alimony laws in Florida have been under some scrutiny in the past month since a front-page story was done on them in early December.
While the current alimony laws serve many purposes, some groups are beginning to questions whether they are still viable in this day and age.
The process of alimony started back in medieval times. Called by its Latin term, alimonia, it meant that the husband was responsible for all of the wife’s necessities after they were divorced. In an even more basic form, it was called the Code of Hammurabi in ancient Babylonia, and involved the man simply returning the dowry.
Alimony laws in Florida are leaps and bounds more evolved than that, but critics of the laws are saying that they reflect values more akin to the 1950s than the 2010s. They go on to say that while in times past, women were more likely to be full-time homemakers, nowadays, women are much more empowered and are much more likely to be full-time businesswomen with high-power careers.
For that reason, the critics say that Florida’s alimony laws need to become more modern, and reflect the changes in society. The main part of alimony law that critics are vocal about is the idea of lifetime alimony, saying that it is completely outdated, and more often than not, only serves to prevent the breadwinner from retiring.
Supporters of alimony laws state that the rules and regulations are there for a valid reason, and serve very real needs. They are afraid of what any broad-sweeping updates will do, and are fighting against any new legislation.
It is unknown what will happen with Florida alimony laws, but it seems as if the world is changing year upon year, so it might only be a matter of time.