One of the factors that is present in some divorces, but not all, is the possibility of spousal support. There are many different considerations that go into the order for these payments. Whether you are the party requesting the support or the party who might have to pay, you should understand some of the factors that might impact these payments.
Spousal support payments might be lowered or stopped if the party who is requesting or receiving support is living with someone as a couple. This can’t be a basic roommate situation, there has to be more to the story. Typically, your ex and the person he or she is living with have to share expenses and have what is construed as a permanent agreement.
Another instance in which spousal support will likely be stopped is if your ex gets married. In this case, the support payments will stop because the new spouse takes over your obligation to support your ex. This is one of the most common reasons why alimony is stopped.
If the paying party gets sick or becomes unemployed, the spousal support payments will usually be reduced or stop. This is because they can’t be expected to support another adult if they don’t have a way to support themselves. It is important to note that leaving a job voluntarily won’t have an impact on spousal support.
Other factors can impact how these payments are handled, so make sure that you understand the order in your case. If there is anything that changes that might lead to a reduction or a termination, you should learn about what you need to do to get the order modified.
Source: FindLaw, “5 Potential Ways to Reduce Spousal Support,” Aditi Mukherji, JD, accessed Sep. 22, 2017