What is future alimony?

In cases where one or both spouses contributed financially to the educational advancement of one partner in the hopes that they may benefit the couple in future, California law allows you to request for spousal support in the form of a reimbursement for the amount you spent on your partner’s education.

Can you get alimony for life?

Unlike other types of alimony or spousal support, permanent alimony is usually paid until one spouse dies. As the name implies, permanent (or lifetime) alimony means that even if the paying spouse retires and lives on social security, they must continue paying alimony to the receiving spouse.

Is alimony paid forever?

Generally, for short-term marriages (under ten years), permanent alimony lasts no longer than half the length of the marriage, with “marriage” defined as the time between the date of marriage and the date of separation. So, if your marriage lasted eight years, you may expect to pay or receive alimony for four years.

When can I get alimony after divorce?

Alimony payments can be ordered to start while the divorce is still pending in court (known as interim or temporary alimony)2 and for a period of time after the divorce is finalized. The court will determine how long you or the other party will receive alimony.

What is lifetime spousal support?

If “Lifetime” or “Permanent” spousal support has been ordered by the court, it means the support must be paid to the receiving spouse until the paying spouse dies. Sometimes it is ordered to be paid until the receiving spouse remarries, however, this isn’t always the case.

Can you buy a house with just alimony?

Lenders have the ability to count alimony payments as income, which improves your ability to get a mortgage. Though buying a home after a divorce may be a top priority, using alimony to qualify is usually impossible until you have received the payments for at least six months.

When does alimony end in New York State?

In New York, cohabitation is where a couple lives together as spouses. If the paying spouse can prove this, the court can terminate alimony. Yes. The obligation to pay future alimony ends automatically upon the date of the dependent spouse’s remarriage.

Can a spouse stop paying alimony if they remarry?

Yes. The obligation to pay future alimony ends when the supported spouse remarries. The paying spouse may stop payments immediately—without a court order ending alimony. No. Cohabitation is not enough to terminate support.

How does cohabitation affect the termination of alimony?

Cohabitation terminates alimony as long as the couple is living together on a continuing and conjugal basis. Paying spouse must file a motion for termination of alimony. The paying spouse can stop paying as of the date a court finds the cohabitation began. The paying spouse is entitled to reimbursement for support paid after that date.

How does remarriage affect your spousal support obligation?

Check your settlement agreement and divorce judgment, which may state that alimony ends if your spouse remarries. Or, you may have agreed that your supported spouse’s remarriage will not terminate spousal support. If your judgment contains specific language about how remarriage affects your alimony obligation, you’re likely bound by those terms.