TALLAHASSEE, Fla., March 26, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- "I'm an older woman who happens to pay permanent alimony", says Tari MacMillan, giving her testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday, holding nothing back. "I'm 64 years old and have been paying fifteen years on a 13 year marriage." McMillan, sharing her plight with Senate members, right before the committee unanimously voted in favor of Senate Bill 1248. SB 1248 seeks to end Permanent alimony and the struggles people like McMillan (women, men and families alike) have had to endure. "My ex-husband, who does not work receives 65% of what I earn and I--who does work--receives 35% of what I earn…. after 12 years of litigation!"
Bill sponsor, Senator Kelli Stargel addressing fellow Judicial Committee members said, "This bill is very clear. It's looking at concrete factors. It's looking at how long you were married, and what's the difference in the income. There's a range in which the judge can work within, and if the judge wants to work outside that range, they just have to give written finding. I look forward to passing this bill today."
Senator Stargel presented a strike-all amendment to SB 1248 addressing the following: duration of temporary alimony, a provision allowing the court to determine a retirement age, and 50/50 timeshare with child custody.
Stargel, along with Representative Colleen Burton, worked with the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar and the organization Family Law Reform, to create the bill. "This bill is a certainly step in the right direction toward a balanced compromise and less litigation," says Alan Frisher, Financial Advisor, Divorce Financial Analyst and Co-founder of Family Law Reform (FLR). FLR is the largest alimony reform advocacy group in the country.
Elisha Roy, past President of the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar, spoke before the committee saying, "The family law section actually supports some factors of this bill. We support the consistency and structure that is going to show." Structure that McMillan is looking forward to, "and that's what this bill is, fair. It doesn't promise to be perfect. There is no perfect outcome in a divorce but we can get a fair one, if this bill passes."
Founded in 2010, Family Law Reform, Inc. is a nonprofit corporation created to change our state's antiquated alimony laws. Based in Tavares, Florida, FLR represents more than 13000 members across Florida. For more information about Family Law Reform, please visit www.FamilyLawReformUSA.com.