Choosing to be a stay-at-home spouse is rarely a passive decision. For many, it is a deliberate sacrifice made for the benefit of the household; one that often means putting a career on hold, forgoing educational opportunities, or stepping away from the workforce entirely to focus on raising children, managing the home, and supporting a partner's professional advancement. In Orlando and across Central Florida, countless individuals have built their marriages and families around this model, expecting shared security in return. But when divorce enters the picture, that balance can feel suddenly and profoundly disrupted.
Stay-at-home spouses face a distinct set of vulnerabilities. Without a recent work history, it can be difficult to secure gainful employment quickly, especially if your professional skills have aged or were never fully developed due to years spent out of the workforce. You may have limited access to liquid assets, no credit history in your own name, and a dependence on your spouse for health insurance, housing, or even basic living expenses. On top of that, there is the emotional weight of dismantling a partnership built on trust, shared duties, and mutual support.
At Adams, Luka & Benton, P.A., we understand these challenges aren't theoretical. They are real, immediate, and deeply personal. Our legal team has worked with stay-at-home spouses throughout the Orlando area, from those who raised children full-time to those who managed the home while their partners climbed the corporate ladder or ran businesses. We take time to understand your role in the marriage and we fight for outcomes that recognize and respect the value of that work.
Alimony: The Key Support Mechanism for a Stay-At-Home SpouseTypes of Alimony Available in FloridaFlorida law offers several forms of spousal support. Temporary alimony helps cover expenses while the divorce is in progress. Bridge-the-gap alimony provides short-term support as you transition to single life. Rehabilitative alimony supports your retraining or education to reenter the workforce. Durational alimony may last for a designated period based on the length of the marriage.
Each kind of alimony has a distinct legal purpose. As a stay-at-home spouse, rehabilitative alimony may be critical if you paused professional development. Durational alimony might better suit you if the marriage lasted several years. Temporary and bridge-the-gap payments help early on but won't meet long-term needs. Our attorneys carefully assess your situation and help you seek the form of support that best serves your continued economic stability.
How the Firm Builds a Strong Alimony CaseAdams, Luka & Benton P.A. begins by reviewing the marriage length, financial contributions, and future needs. If you sacrificed a career or took on full-time parenting, that counts. We compile financial records, tax returns, and documentation of household contributions. For contested divorces, if necessary and your case warrants the expense, we may subpoena records or coordinate with forensic accountants to uncover hidden income or asset transfers. Judges in Central Florida are familiar with these complexities, and our firm knows how best to frame your case.
Negotiation and mediation are usually attempted first. If that fails, we are prepared to litigate. In contested cases we present evidence about your future earning potential and what you need to maintain stability. That might involve paying for education, retraining, or covering daily living costs until you can support yourself.
Division of Marital AssetsEquitable Distribution and Homemaker ContributionsFlorida uses equitable distribution rules, meaning marital assets and debts are divided fairly, but not necessarily evenly. Courts consider contributions to the marriage, which include raising children, managing household finances, and enabling the other spouse's career growth. If you managed the home while your spouse built savings or acquired investments, your contribution is real and recognized.
We identify all assets: real estate, retirement accounts, businesses, personal property. Then we assess what portion is marital versus separate. If you were responsible for the mortgage or childcare while your spouse worked full time or advanced their career, those facts matter in distribution negotiations.
Preparing for the Financial ImpactSometimes, marital property needs to be sold. Other times, one spouse keeps the home while the other receives different assets of equivalent value. Valuation of businesses or investment accounts is crucial, and we handle that. If you will receive asset-based compensation instead of cash, alimony and child support become even more important. You deserve a plan that works for you and accounts for both lifestyle and liquidity.
Child-Related Considerations When You Are a Stay-At-Home ParentMany stay-at-home spouses also primarily care for minor children. That influences both timesharing arrangements and child support. Florida courts look at the time-sharing schedule, healthcare costs, daycare, and educational expenses. A full-time parent may have reduced childcare costs but may still have other out-of-pocket expenses. Our firm helps prepare a parenting plan that reflects your contributions and the children's best interests.
If you handled the bulk of parenting duties while your spouse worked, that may support requests for primary custody or shared decision-making responsibilities. We also help if relocation becomes an issue, particularly if that affects your ability to remain with the children. Courts scrutinize how a move impacts both parents and children.
Practical Steps and What to ExpectYour First Meeting & Case EvaluationAt your initial consultation with Adams, Luka & Benton P.A., you will meet with a family law attorney who listens to your personal story, reviews your goals, and explains likely outcomes specific to Orlando and Central Florida courts. We will explain the strengths and weaknesses of your case, go over the process you will go through and explain options you may encounter.
The Options may include: negotiated settlement, mediation, collaborative divorce or, if necessary, trial. We assess whether settlement is possible and outline deadlines and court procedures in Orange or Seminole County, for instance.
Timeline & Process FlowThe divorce begins with a petition. Temporary support orders may follow, which is when temporary alimony is arranged. Then, discovery: both spouses exchange income statements, assets,debts. Mediation is typical in Florida, often required unless the case involves domestic violence or urgent safety issues.
If mediation does not resolve all issues, motion hearings or pretrial conferences narrow the disputes. A final hearing or trial can happen if needed. Throughout, you have a dedicated attorney available, with communication promised within 24 hours and often beyond normal business hours.
How Adams, Luka & Benton Serves Stay-At-Home Spouses in Orlando and Surrounding AreasLocal Experience & Courtroom KnowledgeOur attorneys have extensive experience across Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake, Sumter, and Marion Counties. Courts in Winter Park, Kissimmee and Orlando each have their variations in procedures or expectations. We bring local experience to ensure strategic representation in your case.
Multi-Disciplinary SupportWe work with forensic accountants, child evaluators, divorce lending professionals, and counselors, if necessary, so your case gets support. This matters especially for rehabilitation planning or accurate support calculations. Our attorneys focus on outcomes that provide stability, not just immediate closure.
Compassionate, Client-Focused GuidanceDivorce can be emotionally draining, especially when you have devoted years to raising children or managing the household. Our approach balances legal rigor with empathy. We never treat you as "the homemaker" alone; instead, we listen to how your contributions shaped the marriage and help you assert the equitable result you deserve.
Common Concerns and How We Address ThemWill I be left without income or assets?We ensure you receive support to cover needs during the divorce and beyond. Alimony, even temporary or bridge-the-gap, can help keep you afloat while more permanent support is arranged. If the marriage was long enough, durational or even permanent alimony might be available. Asset division ensures you are not left without resources.
How long might I have to wait to gain financial independence?If you need retraining or education to return to the workforce, rehabilitative alimony can cover tuition and living expenses until you reach employment capacity. Our attorneys help plan a timeline and negotiation strategy to support that path.
What if we agree on some issues but not others?Partial agreements are common. You might agree on property distribution but disagree on support. Florida courts allow agreements on some issues while unresolved topics move to mediation or court. We help you negotiate what can be agreed and litigate what cannot.
Taking the Next Step: Contact UsIf you are a stay-at-home spouse considering divorce in Orlando, Winter Park, Kissimmee, Sanford, or across Central Florida, your first step is a free consultation with our firm. You will meet directly with an experienced divorce attorney who will review your circumstances, explain your rights under Florida law, and map out a strategy to pursue your financial security.
Call us today for a free consultation. You can also complete our online contact form anytime. Whether your case is amicable or contested, you deserve guidance grounded in local knowledge, thorough preparation, and compassionate support.