Spousal Support Modification

If spousal support was ordered as part of the Divorce Decree or Judgment, either party may have the right to seek a support modification of the terms so long as the award was not deemed non-modifiable originally.

What Is A Modification?

Spousal support is designed to provide the lower-income spouse with money for living expenses regardless of gender. The existence, amount, and duration of monthly spousal support payments will be defined either by the court or a settlement agreement.

Who Can Qualify For A Support Modification?

Because of how important the support payments are, modification most often requires the filing parent to show a significant change in circumstances.

For the paying parent, this commonly takes the form of a drop in income, frequently due to the loss of a job.

The receiving ex-spouse can seek an adjustment if the payer’s income has risen substantially.

Conversely, the payer may be able to seek to reduce or terminate spousal support if the ex-spouse has remarried or achieved financial independence.

Related Reading: An In-Depth Look At How Spousal Support Works In Washington State