Losing your job can create a significant financial burden, especially if you have to pay alimony along with your other expenses. As such, it’s crucial to understand how being laid off can impact your support obligation. Please continue reading to learn whether or not you can stop making alimony payments after becoming unemployed and why connecting with our trusted Bristol County Alimony Lawyers is in your best interest.
What is Alimony?
Alimony is a court-ordered payment from one spouse to the other during and/or after a divorce. In some marriages, there is a significant financial discrepancy between parties. To minimize this economic disparity, the court can order the higher-earning spouse to pay alimony to the dependent spouse. This helps the dependent spouse maintain a similar lifestyle to which they have become accustomed to during the marriage.
Contrary to popular belief, the courts don’t automatically grant alimony. If a spouse needs financial support, they must petition the court for alimony. The court will consider several factors to determine whether alimony is appropriate. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following:
- The duration of the marriage
- The age and health of each party
- The income and earning capacity of each party
- The standard of living established during the marriage
- The contributions to the marriage
- The parental responsibilities
- The potential tax consequences
- The time and expense needed to obtain adequate education or training
Do I Need to Keep Paying Alimony if I’m Laid Off?
If you have been laid off in Massachusetts, it’s crucial to understand that you are still required to fulfill your support obligations. Alimony orders are official court orders that must be complied with. Therefore, failing to pay alimony is considered contempt of court and can result in significant consequences. If you are laid off, you cannot simply stop making payments, you must continue to make payments unless you have received permission from the court to do otherwise.
If you have a legitimate reason for being unable to fulfill your alimony obligation, such as suddenly facing unemployment, it’s in your best interest to contact an experienced attorney who can help you petition the court to amend your existing support order. Modifying an alimony order is only feasible in Massachusetts when there has been a substantial change in circumstances. In the event of a layoff, a support order may be subject to a reduction or termination if it’s deemed a significant financial change. However, you need to prove that you have actively sought comparable work without success. You also need to demonstrate that you did not intentionally lose your job to avoid paying alimony.
At The Law Offices of Cynthia L. Hanley, P.C., we understand how devastating losing your job can be. If being laid off has affected your ability to fulfill your support obligation, please don’t hesitate to contact our legal team today to learn how we can assist you during these times so you can fight for the best possible outcome.
