Is a reduction in alimony likely?

[murfkins]

What is the name of your state? Virginia I have been divorced for 13 years and was married for 7 years. Our original court order awarded $400 in spousal support to drop $100 each year until it reached $200. I was then told by the judge that if I wanted it reduced further or dropped altogether I would have to petition the court at a later date. I want to do so now, but I have questions first. Can the judge go back and award more spousal support? My ex-wife works and owns her won home, but I make considerably more than her now. I have retired from the military, completed college and now have a good job? Can she go after my military retirement now? I know I only pay $200 a month to her, but I want to severe all ties with her. She still continues to make my life miserable. I pay child support and have no problems paying for my children, I just don't feel that after 13 years I owe her anything!

[seniorjudge]

Google

virginia spousal support reduction

You will find lots of interesting articles.

Anyway, what EXACTLY does the original judgment in the lawsuit say on this subject?

(I will grant you that a lot of them are horribly written, so it may be tough to figure it out.)

[murfkins]

.....at which time spousal support shall be reduced to $200.00 per month thereafter.

There is not other mention of spousal support after that.

[seniorjudge]

Well, then go for it.

Just remember that ex will want something too.

You may wind up worse off than you are now.

[LdiJ]

Originally Posted by murfkins

.....at which time spousal support shall be reduced to $200.00 per month thereafter.

There is not other mention of spousal support after that.

Has child support been increased regularly, along with the increases in your income? If not...you might want to leave it alone until either child support ends, or she takes you back to court for a CS increase.

If you succeed in ending alimony, its highly likely that she would file for a child support increase. Since you state that your income has increased substantially, you may be paying far less child support than the guidelines indicate. Therefore you could actually end up in a worse position financially.

At least run the numbers on an online child support calculator as part of your decision making process.

[murfkins]

My child support is going up. That is part of what is prompting this. I never pushed the spousal support issue, because I assumed that my support would go up at least as much as the alimony, so I considered it a wash. I have one minor child still living with my ex-wife and he is 15.