Legal Question in Family Law in Massachusetts
if a person is divorced can they stop paying alimony because they make less money
2 Answers from Attorneys
Sometimes alimony can be modified depending on your current circumstances and the language in your divorce agreement, however, you can not simply stop paying an ongoing financial obligation entered as part of a divorce agreement. If you do, you may be found guilty of contempt of court. The only way to stop paying alimony is to file a complaint for modification with the court and show the court that a substantial change in circumstances has occurred (such as an involuntary reduction in income).
If a person violates a court order, they can be gound guilty of contempt. If a person is not paying court ordered alimony, that is a violation of a court order and therefore can lead to a contempt judgment.
There are certainly situations where court ordered alimony may be modified. If you are interested in speaking with an attorney, please contact our office so we can schedule a free consultation for you.