Divorce gives you a fresh start, and finding love again deserves celebration. However, this new happiness might come with worry about losing spousal support payments. So, should you avoid new relationships to keep your financial support intact?
When courts modify spousal support amounts
Remarriage automatically ends spousal support in Virginia and most states. However, Washington, D.C., does not automatically stop or change spousal maintenance simply because of a new relationship or a remarriage.
When dating someone, the courts examine your living situation when deciding whether to change spousal support. They look at specific factors, such as:
- Whether you and your new partner live together
- If your new partner helps pay your bills or provides support
- Any changes in your income or expenses
If you move in with a new partner, the court assumes your living expenses decrease. In Virginia, cohabitating with a partner for at least a year may also be grounds for changing or stopping support payments.
Strategies to protect your alimony payments
You can take steps to minimize the impact on your spousal support:
- Maintain separate residences instead of moving in together
- Keep all finances completely separate from your new partner
- Document that you pay your own bills and living expenses
- Avoid joint bank accounts or shared credit cards
- Avoid joint purchases or investments
These precautions help show the court that your financial needs haven’t changed due to the relationship and show you remain financially independent.
Pursue your happiness with proper preparation
New relationships can add meaning to life after divorce. There is no reason to put your life on hold out of fear of losing spousal support. While you can take steps to protect your payments, serious relationships naturally progress toward deeper commitment and possible remarriage.
The financial impact becomes unavoidable at that point. If you’re concerned about how a serious relationship or even remarriage might affect your spousal support, it may help to speak with a family law attorney. They can help you plan ahead and prepare for any financial changes that might come.
