Considering divorcing my wife. Not sure how alimony will work out.

[macul]

We've been married 11 years. We've a four year old daughter. My wife is a stay at home mom. She quit working about 3.5 years ago. She had a career with an average to above average income. She has a four year degree. She could get a job with a slightly above average income tomorrow if she wanted to. She is in the reserves, though they've asked her to work full time at the base. I've asked her to return to work a few times, though she doesn't want to. I don't push the matter.

I make pretty good money, over twice the Florida average. I won't contest custody as our daughter would be better with her mom, so I'm prepared to pay child support. What I'm unsure of is what, if any, alimony I'd have to pay. We've talked about divorce in the past. Wife is convinced the courts would allow her to continue to stay at home (i.e. not get a full time job) with me supporting her. She's even threatened that she won't work if we got divorced.

Thanks for any guidance you can provide. I don't want to divorce my wife, though I'm miserable. If worst comes to worst I want to make sure I'm prepared.

[Attorney Howard Iken]

A lot of other information goes into this sort of thing. So this is just an off-the-cuff opinion.

Any type of alimony would be short term and intended to help her transition.