When a marriage ends, sometimes one person pays money to the other. This is called alimony. Many people wonder if these payments stop if their ex gets married again. It’s important to know the rules about this. This guide will help you learn if your alimony payments can end.
Does Remarriage Always End Alimony?
What People Think: A lot of people believe that when an ex remarries, alimony stops right away. This is not always true. What your divorce papers say is very important.
Checking Your Papers: Sometimes, the divorce papers state clearly that alimony ends when your ex remarries. If your papers say this, it makes things clear. You can then try to stop the payments.
- Look at your divorce papers first.
- See if they talk about remarriage.
- This can make stopping alimony easier.
- Your papers are your main guide.
- They should say when alimony stops.
- If it’s there, your case is strong.
Example: John paid alimony to his ex-wife, Sarah. Their divorce papers said alimony would end if Sarah remarried. When Sarah got married again, John showed the court his papers. The court then stopped his alimony payments because it was written down.
What if the Papers Don’t Say Alimony Ends?
Other Rules: Some divorce papers say alimony lasts until things change. They might also say “until the court orders something else.” This means remarriage does not automatically stop the payments.
Why You May Need to Act: If your papers have these words, remarriage can still be a reason to end alimony. But you may need to **ask the court to do it**. This means you need to file a request with the court.
- Look for words like “changes in life.”
- Look for “until the court says.”
- These mean you need to go to court.
- Remarriage is a big change.
- It can cause alimony to stop.
- A judge may need to make a choice.
Example: Mary paid alimony to her ex-husband, Tom. Their divorce papers said alimony would continue until there was a “change in life.” When Tom remarried, Mary knew this was a big change. She went to court to ask a judge to end her alimony.
How Do You Ask the Court to Stop Alimony?
Making a Request: If your ex remarries and your divorce papers don’t end alimony on their own, you will need to **file a motion**. This is a written request to the court. You are asking the judge to stop the payments.
What to Tell the Judge: You need to tell the judge that your ex has remarried. Explain that this is a big change. Say that your ex now gets money from someone else. You can argue that you should not have to pay alimony anymore.
- File a motion to end alimony.
- Tell the court about the remarriage.
- Point out the new support your ex has.
- You are asking the judge for a new order.
- This starts the court process.
- The court will then look at your case.
Example: Sarah’s ex-husband, David, remarried. Her divorce papers did not say alimony would stop. Sarah talked to her lawyer and filed a motion. In court, her lawyer said David no longer needed her support because his new spouse took care of him.
Does a New Spouse’s Money Matter?
Looking at New Money: The judge will not always add the new spouse’s income to your ex’s income. It is not always part of the math. But the judge can think about other things.
Focus on Need: The judge can look at how much your ex needs money. If your ex no longer needs the money, alimony may end. Remarriage often changes this need. For more about alimony in Michigan, see the Michigan Alimony Guide – ChooseGoldman.
- New spouse’s money is not always counted.
- The judge looks at your ex’s real needs.
- Do they still need your money?
- Financial need is a key point.
- Remarriage can make this need lower.
- This can help your case.
Example: Tim’s ex-wife, Lisa, married a rich man. The judge did not add her new husband’s money to Lisa’s, but the judge saw that Lisa’s need for money was much lower. This helped Tim end his alimony payments.
What Happens After You Ask the Court?
Court’s Choice: The court will listen to both sides. The judge has a lot of power in these cases. They can choose to end alimony, change it, or keep it the same.
Possible Results: It is likely that alimony will be changed. It might end completely. It could also be cut down. The judge will look at all the facts before making a choice.
- The judge will hear your side.
- The judge will hear your ex’s side.
- The court will make a choice.
- Alimony might stop fully.
- It might be changed to less money.
- The judge has the final word.
Example: When David asked to end alimony, the judge heard from both David and his ex-wife. After seeing how her needs changed since she remarried, the judge decided to lower David’s alimony payments by half instead of ending them fully.
Why Is a Change in Life Important?
New Help: Remarriage is a clear change in life. It means your ex now gets help from another person. This new help can be a reason to stop alimony payments.
Reasons for Alimony: Alimony is often given to help a person after divorce. If the reasons for giving alimony are no longer there, it may be ended. Remarriage can make those reasons go away.
- Remarriage brings new money help.
- The first reasons for alimony may vanish.
- This is a good reason to end payments.
- A new marriage changes the old need.
- This is a big change for the court to see.
- It helps your case to end alimony.
Example: When Emily’s ex-husband, Mark, remarried, Emily said Mark no longer needed her support. She showed the court that the main reasons for alimony, which was to help Mark, were gone now that he had a new spouse helping him.
Should You Talk to a Lawyer?
Each Case is Different: Every divorce case is special. What happened in one case might not happen in yours. It is good to get help that fits your situation.
Getting Advice: A lawyer can look at your specific case. They can tell you the best way to move forward. They can help you file the right papers and speak for you in court. For more about divorce and family law, you can learn at Michigan Divorce & Family Law Attorneys.
- Your case has its own details.
- A lawyer can give you personal advice.
- They know the laws in Michigan.
- They can help you plan your next steps.
- A lawyer can make the court process easier.
- It is always good to get legal help.
Example: Before doing anything, Mike called a lawyer at ChooseGoldman.com. He told them about his ex-wife’s remarriage. The lawyer looked at his divorce papers and told him the best way to ask the court to end his alimony payments.
What About Changing Alimony Instead of Stopping It?
Changing Payments: Sometimes, the court may not end alimony completely. Instead, they might change the amount you pay. This is called modifying alimony.
Different Levels of Stopping: The court has the power to lower the payments. It might not be a full stop, but a smaller amount. This is still a good result if your ex’s needs have changed. You can learn more by watching this video: Alimony Rights When Ex Remarries – ChooseGoldman.com.
- Alimony can be cut down.
- It might not be a full stop.
- Any change can be helpful.
- The judge looks at how much to change it.
- This is part of the judge’s power.
- It can still save you money.
Example: After Brenda’s ex-husband remarried, she asked the court to end her alimony payments. The judge chose not to end them fully, but he cut the payments by half. This was still a helpful change for Brenda.
Extra Insights
Knowing Alimony Rules: It is very important to know the rules about alimony. The main reason for alimony is to help one person after a divorce. When that need changes, the payments might also change. Knowing what your divorce papers say is the first step.
Why a Lawyer Helps: Dealing with alimony changes can be hard. A lawyer can help you know your choices. They can guide you through the court process and make sure your rights are safe. If you have questions about ending alimony, you can watch this video for more details: Do I Still Have To Pay Alimony If My Ex Gets Married Again – ChooseGoldman.com.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1: Will alimony payments stop as soon as my ex remarries?
No, not always. It depends on what your divorce papers say about alimony.
2: What if my divorce papers don’t mention remarriage?
You may need to ask the court to stop alimony. Remarriage can be a big change.
3: Do I need to go to court to stop alimony?
Often, yes. You might need to file a request and have a judge decide.
4: Will my ex’s new spouse’s income be counted?
Not always. The judge mainly looks at your ex’s own need for money.
5: Can alimony be reduced instead of completely stopped?
Yes, the judge can reduce alimony. They can change the amount you pay.
6: Is remarriage always a good reason to end alimony?
Remarriage is a strong reason. It shows a change in your ex’s money situation.
7: What if my ex agrees to stop alimony?
If your ex agrees, you can send a written order to them. The court can then make it official.
8: What is a “”change in life”” for alimony?
A change in life means a big event, like remarriage. It affects the need for help.
9: How long does it take to end alimony payments?
The time changes for each case. It depends on court rules and how fast the judge acts.
10: Can I get back payments if my ex remarries and I keep paying?
This is usually not possible. Alimony stops from the date the judge orders it. Act fast.
11: What kind of lawyer handles alimony cases?
A family law attorney handles alimony cases. They know the rules and can help in court.
12: Can I handle this without a lawyer?
It’s possible, but not a good idea. Alimony laws can be tricky. A lawyer can give you the best chance.
Contact Us: If you have questions about alimony or other family law issues, please reach out to us. We are here to help. You can call or text us at (248) 590-6600 for a free talk. You can also visit Michigan Alimony Attorneys – ChooseGoldman for more details and to learn how we can assist you.