Any time after finalizing the terms of your divorce, you could find yourself needing to modify your spousal support agreement or order. A significant change in your financial situation or that of your ex-spouse can be a cause for making a change. A Charlotte spousal support modifications lawyer can help you through the process.
At Melone Hatley, P.C., we have been helping clients manage the spousal support modification process for over a decade. Whether you are seeking to modify or are facing a modification request from your former spouse, our Charlotte spousal support lawyers will take the required steps to help you secure a favorable outcome.
Contact us today to set up a free case evaluation with a Client Services Coordinator from our firm.
When to Secure Legal Assistance for Your Spousal Support Modification Case
You may have options for seeking a modification to the terms of your spousal support agreement or order, whether you are the party making or receiving spousal support payments.
The most common reasons for modifying a spousal support agreement include:
- The loss of employment, a significant reduction in pay or hours, or the retirement of either party
- Either party receiving a substantial raise or being hired on to a new, higher paying job
- Missing or short payments from the party ordered to provide spousal support
When looking to modify your spousal support order or agreement, an experienced Charlotte divorce lawyer can help you through the filing process. Alternatively, if your ex-spouse is the one seeking to make a change, your lawyer can help you respond to their petition. Your attorney will take every action necessary to protect your rights during the process.
Termination of Spousal Support May Be a Better Option in Your Case
Instead of seeking to modify your spousal support arrangement, it may make more sense for your case to seek to terminate spousal support altogether.
For termination to be an option in your case, the financial situation of either you or your former spouse will need to have been significantly altered.
Spousal support payments are most commonly terminated due to cohabitation with a significant other or the remarriage of the party that had been receiving spousal support. If the income from the new spouse comfortably replaces the spousal support the former spouse was paying, a judge may agree to terminate spousal support.
A Charlotte family lawyer can help you determine whether the circumstances of your situation make you eligible for termination of spousal support.
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Actions a Spousal Support Modifications Attorney in Charlotte Will Take in Your Case
At Melone Hatley, P.C., our Charlotte spousal support modifications lawyers will fight for you to help ensure a favorable outcome to your case. Some of the steps your attorney is likely to take in their pursuit of an outcome that aligns with your goals include:
- Studying the details of your current spousal support order or agreement
- Reviewing the financial situations of both you and your former spouse
- Evaluating the effects any recent changes to the financial situation of either spouse may have on the case
- Assisting you as you file the required paperwork for adjusting your current spousal support order or agreement
- Replying to any modification request filed by your ex-spouse if they are the one hoping to make a change
When you hire us to help with your spousal support modification case, we will use all available resources to ensure an outcome that meets your goals. We will be with you every step of the way to ensure you are aware of your current situation and the effect any modification would have on your financial situation.
Modifications You Can Make With Different Types of Spousal Support
One of the things that will have the biggest impact on your ability to modify your spousal support arrangement is the type of agreement or order that is currently in place. Different types of spousal support can be awarded depending on the specific details of your situation.
Temporary Alimony
Temporary alimony is awarded during divorce proceedings and can be modified whenever either party’s financial situation significantly changes.
Non-Modifiable Support
If non-modifiable support was awarded in your case, the court will be unable to make any changes to the support order. In this situation, the court’s authority will be limited to upholding and enforcing payment of the spousal support order.
Permanent Alimony
A permanent alimony agreement or order is meant to last until the death of one party or the other. However, under certain conditions, permanent alimony can still be modified.
The most common reasons for a modification are a significant change in either party’s financial situation or the remarriage of the party who receives spousal support. Permanent alimony is being phased out throughout the country and a court is unlikely to order permanent alimony going forward.
Rehabilitative Alimony
Rehabilitative alimony provides financial support to one spouse for a limited time until they can support themselves. Adjustments to rehabilitative alimony can be made if the party receiving spousal support payments’ educational or career advancement goals change or if they achieve self-sufficiency more quickly than anticipated.
Reach Out to an Experienced Spousal Support Modifications Lawyer Serving Charlotte Today
When looking to modify the terms of your spousal support order or agreement or replying to a modification request from your former spouse, you need to have an experienced Charlotte spousal support modifications attorney by your side to give you the best chance of a positive outcome. At Melone Hatley, P.C., our compassionate team is ready to help with your case.
Get in touch with us through our website or by giving us a call and schedule a free case review today. Our client testimonials can give you an idea of the service you can expect when working with our team.
