Remarriage is one event that could cause your alimony agreement to change in the start of New Jersey. These payments are meant to support a spouse who otherwise might not be able to live independently. When that spouse remarries, the alimony payments usually stop because now it is assumed that their new spouse will support them. If you are at all confused about how your spousal support arrangement might change, it is wise to contact our alimony and spousal support attorneys in Bergen County, NJ.
What Happens if I Remarry While Receiving Alimony Payments?
If you are the spouse receiving support and you remarry, you will stop receiving any kind of alimony payments. This is going to be the outcome in the majority of cases unless some kind of agreement was made to keep payments coming even if the supported spouse marries again.
When you are the spouse receiving alimony, it is your responsibility to tell your former partner that you are getting remarried. If you just keep accepting spousal support payments without notifying anyone about your change in status, you could be forced to pay them back along with court and lawyer fees.
Can I Stop Making Alimony Payments if I Remarry?
No. If you are the one making spousal support payments, your situation does not really matter. Even if you are now supporting another spouse and another family, your duty to your former partner remains for as long as your alimony agreement lasts.
Fortunately, such agreements do not last your entire life in New Jersey. Some states require the supporting spouse to make payments for much longer, but most alimony arrangements only last a few years unless there are very specific circumstances that need to be dealt with.
Are There Any Other Types of Spousal Support I Am Still Obligated to Pay?
Most of the time your obligation to pay alimony will end when your spouse gets married. However, there are different types of alimony that you may still need to pay if there was an agreement in place.
A good example of this is rehabilitative alimony. This type of spousal support is meant to help pay for school and other resources that can help a spouse get a better job and become more self-sufficient. Usually, such an agreement to pay this type of alimony is meant to last for a specific amount of time and it will not be modified due to any life events like a remarriage.
What if my Former Spouse is Cohabitating?
Cohabitating couples are similar to married couples but without any formal paperwork. They live together and often have their finances entwined, through joint accounts or maybe even property. If you can show that a former spouse is cohabitating, you may be able to modify your alimony agreement.
Talk to an Alimony Lawyer
If you are at all confused about your alimony arrangement or you need help with a former spouse who will not make payments, one of our attorneys may be able to help. Contact Townsend, Tomaio & Newmark today.
