Either through agreement or a court-issued order, a divorcing Longmont resident may find themselves subject to an alimony obligation. Alimony, also known as spousal support, is the payment of financial support from one party to a divorce to the other, after the parties have legally terminated their relationship.
This Colorado family law blog has previously discussed alimony and how it may vary in terms of amount and duration of mandatory payments. However, in some cases, a party paying alimony may wish to either modify or eliminate their obligation due to a change in some circumstances related to the ex-partners’ situations. This post will briefly discuss why and how an alimony obligation may be modified, but readers should speak to their own attorneys about their unique legal cases.
Often, the paying party to an alimony obligation or award may ask the divorce court to reduce or modify the obligation due to a decrease in the person’s ability to pay. The loss of a job or other reduction in the paying party’s income may warrant a decrease in the amount of alimony he or she is required to pay.
Additionally, changes in the life of a receiving spouse may prompt the need for a review of a former couple’s alimony situation. If a receiving spouse gains employment that provides him or her with sufficient income to live off of, the paying spouse may be able to demonstrate that alimony is no longer necessary for maintaining the recipient’s lifestyle.
In Colorado, a paying party may file a motion with his divorce court to have his or her spousal support obligation reduced or eliminated. Other family law matters, such as child support and child custody, can also be modified if a change in circumstances warrants such action. Readers with questions about alimony are encouraged to seek legal counsel from a family law lawyer.
