If your spousal support order is no longer suitable for your financial circumstances, you can petition the court to have it modified to accommodate your ever-changing life. After all, a lot can happen after a divorce. You might lose your job, sustain a terrible injury, fall ill, or any other number of complications that may either warrant an increase or a decrease, depending on the situation.
Your first move would be to consult your former spouse on the matter. If you can reach an agreement to modify your spousal support order, this will certainly save you a lot of time, money, and aggravation, but it is not always possible. Your next option would be to petition the court with your request.
Petitioning the Court for a Spousal Support Modification
To successfully petition the court for a modification to your spousal support order, you must prove that circumstances changed substantially and that the change was involuntary.
Below are some examples of cases in which a request for modification may be granted:
- The receiving party remarried or cohabitates with a romantic partner.
- Either party becomes unemployed or their income decreases.
- Either party receives a substantial increase in income.
- Either party develops a disability and can no longer work.
In some cases, a change in circumstances, such as unemployment, may be temporary. As such, a judge may grant only a temporary modification until the situation improves, making it possible to resume the original court order.
Reach Out to Our Experienced Family Law Team to Schedule a Consultation
If you believe your circumstances changed substantially enough to warrant a modification to your spousal support order, you should consider consulting with an experienced attorney to learn more about your legal options. At William Kirby, Family Law Attorney, our team will help you achieve the best possible results for your case.
Call our law office today at (215) 515-9901 to request a consultation.