Alimony can be one of the most stressful elements of divorce negotiations. Typically, the courts only award alimony in cases where the need of one spouse is evident and the other has the ability to pay.
Alimony payments allow someone to improve their economic circumstances so that they can live independently after a divorce. The person receiving alimony has an interest in knowing how long it may last so they know what resources they have to rely on while rebuilding their wives. Those paying alimony often want to end payments as soon as possible.
The difference in what the spouses need and want from the situation can lead to conflict. When do alimony payments end after a Rhode Island divorce?
After the completion of the order
Rehabilitative alimony intended to help someone improve their circumstances is temporary. It might last for a certain number of years. The payments terminate at the end of the order in most cases. In rare circumstances, judges may order indefinite alimony due to long-term marriages or significant economic discrepancies between the spouses.
After the recipient recovers financially
Some people anticipate spending multiple years rebuilding their careers, only to succeed faster than they expect. When a recipient no longer needs alimony because their income has increased, it may be possible to go back to family court to ask for a modification to either reduce alimony payments or terminate them early. A remarriage could also justify the early termination of a Rhode Island alimony order. Someone who has a new spouse to help them cover cost-of-living expenses likely no longer requires alimony.
After changes to the payer’s life
Certain personal changes do not affect alimony obligations. If the spouse paying alimony remarries, their new family circumstances do not absolve them of their prior obligations. In cases where someone voluntarily leaves a well-paid job to reduce or end their alimony, the courts may see through those questionable choices and may choose not to alter alimony payments.
However, if someone involuntarily loses their job, experiences medical emergencies or has other major financial setbacks, the courts can consider their new circumstances in an alimony modification hearing. When factors beyond someone’s control leave them unable to pay, the family courts may agree to reduce or terminate the support obligations they have to a spouse.
Couples can sometimes agree to modify an existing alimony order, much like they can agree on certain alimony terms during the initial divorce. Either spouse could also go back to family court seeking a modification when the alimony order no longer reflects family circumstances. Either way, learning more about what happens in complex divorce cases involving alimony and large marital estates can be beneficial for those preparing for the end of a marriage in Rhode Island.
