When Does Spousal Support End?
When does spousal support end? Even when spousal support is determined as lifetime spousal support, it is not necessarily forever.
There are four ways in which an order for spousal support may terminate:
- Spousal support may terminate on a specified date;
- Spousal support may terminate upon the occurrence of a specified event;
- The domestic relations court may terminate spousal support pursuant to its continuing jurisdiction if a change of circumstances has occurred that supports termination of spousal support;
- Spousal support may terminate as a matter of law upon remarriage of the recipient spouse or the death of either party.
Does spousal support end when the recipient spouse cohabitates with a member of the opposite sex? Not necessarily. Termination of spousal support upon cohabitation can occur if this condition is written in the separation agreement and divorce decree.
Does spousal support end when the recipient finds a better job? Not necessarily. If the court does not reserve jurisdiction to modify spousal support, then it does not matter if the recipient gets a better job. The parties locked in the spousal support figure. What if the payer loses his or her job? Same answer. If the parties want to allow the court to consider such changes in the future, then the court must reserve jurisdiction to do so. Otherwise, spousal support will not increase or decrease, but will only be subject to termination.
To read more, click on the following links to my other articles on divorce and dissolution: what does the IRS consider to be spousal support; how does an Ohio court decide spousal support, minimum amount of child support in Ohio, minimum income for child support in Ohio, Ohio child support terms, everything you wanted to know about Ohio child support, the difference between divorce and dissolution in Ohio, filing tax returns during a divorce in Ohio, and getting creative with Ohio child support.
Attorney Gigiano is an Akron family law lawyer in Wadsworth and Summit County family law lawyer near Barberton, and has litigated spousal support issues in Summit County divorce cases, Wayne County divorce cases, Medina County divorce cases, and Cuyahoga County divorce cases. Attorney Gigiano’s aggressive representation has earned him a number of positive reviews on a number of sites. If you have questions about this or other questions you need answered by an experienced Wooster family law attorney near Orrville, please call Attorney Daniel F. Gigiano at 330-336-3330.
