Alimony in Florida: Florida Alimony Law FAQs. What are Frequently Asked Questions for Alimony in FL?At the most basic level, alimony depends on one spouse's need for financial support and the other spouse's ability to pay it. You and your spouse can agree to include the length of your alimony arrangement in the court order. Spousal support can be boiled down to these key factors: 1) the requesting spouse's need for financial support and 2) the other spouse's ability to pay it. As a general rule, judges in Florida will set the amount of alimony based on the recipient spouse's demonstrated need. You'll have to start the petition in the county that you want to serve the other party in. Judges in Washington can award three types of spousal maintenance: temporary support, shortterm maintenance, and longterm maintenance. General Information and Instructions about Ending Your Marriage. "In Florida, a spouse in a longterm marriage, more than seventeen years, can be ordered to pay permanent lifetime alimony.