As the sole or majority breadwinner for your family, you offer financial well-being to your spouse who either makes less money than you or left the workforce to support your career, run your household and raise your children.
During a divorce in Maryland, you must continue to provide support for your ex via spousal support, known as alimony, during proceedings and perhaps long-term as part of your settlement.
Do changes in circumstances warrant a reduction in alimony payments?
The amount of alimony the court orders you pay depends on several factors such as age, health and standard of living at the time of the divorce. However, there are some reasons to modify a settlement:
- You lose your job or take an involuntary pay cut
- You develop an illness or disability that affects your ability to work
- Your former spouse gains employment
- Your former spouse remarries or begins cohabitating with a new partner
When can I stop paying alimony?
If your alimony obligation is part of your legal divorce settlement agreement, you must continue making the required payments for as long as the court order stipulates. However, if you believe your contribution is no longer necessary due to your ex’s improved financial status, you can request a post-divorce modification through the Maryland family court.
The court expects that your family situation will change over time. Therefore, your divorce decree is not set in stone, and you have the right to ask for an adjustment when you feel an update is necessary.