Stopping Alimony Payments in New Jersey

Spousal support, known as alimony in New Jersey, is often a negotiated and agreed upon issue in a divorcing couple’s settlement agreement. Alimony is usually paid to the lower-income spouse so they can maintain a reasonably comparable standard of living after the divorce.

Several scenarios exist where alimony payments may be modified or stopped entirely. Alimony payors can apply to stop paying spousal support if their circumstances change such as retiring, becoming disabled, or permanently losing their job and being unable to find a new job that pays the same as the old one. Additionally, if the party receiving alimony becomes entirely self-supporting, alimony payments may be terminated.

If you are searching for a way to stop alimony payments in New Jersey, contact the experienced alimony termination attorneys at Moskowitz Law Group to learn more about your options.

Duration of Alimony Payments

A substantial, permanent, and involuntary change in financial circumstances is necessary to stop a person’s alimony payments in New Jersey. Spousal support can only end if the marital settlement agreement explicitly states the circumstances for termination, the duration of alimony for a fixed amount of years has run out, or other changes in circumstances warrant termination.

A correctly drafted marital settlement agreement should include a section on alimony and spousal support. This section should specify whether the alimony payments are for a limited duration over a fixed amount of years or open durational without a fixed end date.

Stopping Alimony in the Event of Death, Remarriage, or Cohabitation

In New Jersey, alimony terminates upon the death or remarriage of the supported spouse. However, if the paying spouse remarries, the alimony payments will continue.

If the person paying alimony dies, they usually have life insurance to secure their spousal support to the recipient. If they do not have this, the recipient can look to their estate for payment of the alimony they would have been owed.

Alimony may be suspended or terminated if the supported spouse begins cohabitation with a romantic partner. Cohabitation involves a mutually supportive, intimate personal relationship in which a couple has undertaken duties and privileges that are commonly associated with marriage but does not necessarily maintain a single common household. Factors that may indicate cohabitation include intertwined finances, sharing living expenses, and frequent and continuing overnight stays where the couple may as well be living together.

The family attorneys at Moskowitz Law Group can help clients through terminating alimony payments if these circumstances occur.

Get Legal Support with Stopping New Jersey Alimony Payments

It may be difficult to stop your alimony payments without the help of legal counsel. Our team has extensive experience in family law and can determine whether there is a change of circumstances that qualifies for a spousal support modification. Similarly, we can look at whether a provision under a marital settlement agreement will allow for cessation of the alimony.

Get in touch with a dedicated family law attorney for advice if you believe you may be eligible to end your spousal support payments. Call today to schedule a confidential consultation.