Divorce is a lifelong decision that does not disappear after the paperwork is signed. Divorce can have lasting effects on your finances, perhaps reaching into the decades. It is common for a high-earning spouse to be required to pay alimony to a lower-earning or stay-at-home ex-spouse. Even while it usually doesn’t last longer than the marriage itself, this can significantly drain resources. Discuss your case with a Montgomery divorce attorney.
You may be concerned about the future of your alimony payments if your ex-spouse has started dating again.
Alimony’s Reason for Existence
The purpose of alimony is to help the lower-earning spouse remain financially stable and maintain a certain standard of living after a divorce. However, alimony might be a significant monthly expense if your ex-spouse has been accustomed to affluent life thanks to your wealth.
These days, judges in Alabama very never issue permanent alimony because they assume the lower income spouse will one day be able to support both of them. They can keep up a certain quality of living while gaining the skills or education they need to support themselves thanks to the periodic alimony payments they get.
But what if your ex-spouse starts living with a new partner or remarries? You probably don’t want your hard-earned money going to support another person if you’re like many people who pay spousal support.
Ask HuffPost: What Really Happens When an Ex-Spouse Remarries or Sets Up House with a New Partner?
Fortunately, the law in Alabama is crystal clear on this matter. When the alimony recipient gets married again or moves in with a significant other, the payments must end per Section 30.2.55. For alimony to end, the paying party must show the court that the receiving party has entered into a new marriage or domestic partnership.
The good news is that remarriage or cohabitation in Alabama automatically terminates alimony. Some states and divorce agreements specify that alimony payments will terminate only upon the recipient’s subsequent marriage. Because their ex-spouse never remarries, some people financially support their ex and their new partner.
Providing Concrete Evidence That Your Ex Has Moved On With Someone Else
The key is demonstrating that your ex-spouse has moved on with someone else. Marriage licences and public announcements make it simple to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that they have remarried. The process can take longer, though, if the alimony recipient is deliberately concealing their cohabitation.