You still pay alimony after remarriage is you pay in a lump sum or are past due. Alimony, or spousal support, in the state of Texas is provided to an ex-spouse if that person is incapable of supporting himself or herself. Alimony payments are also designed to ensure that the spouse continues to maintain the same standard of living that he or she enjoyed during the duration of the marriage. How long you have to pay alimony differs for each couple.
Eligibility for alimony payments ends at the time of remarriage. Spousal support can stop without a Dallas court order. However, if your ex-husband or ex-wife remarries and you still owe several dues on alimony, then you must immediately clear the due alimony.
Alimony payments are meant for the maintenance of the ex-spouse and not maintenance of the new spouse or partner. You are no longer under any obligation to continue to pay alimony.
Lump Sum Payments
If, as part of the court-mandated alimony agreement, you agreed to pay the alimony in a lump sum or as part of a property transfer, then you are still obligated to honor those agreements. Those obligations are not changed by your ex-spouse’s remarriage. In other words, only monthly alimony payments are subject to termination upon an ex-spouse’s remarriage.
Do I have to pay alimony if my ex-spouse is cohabiting?
If you are currently paying alimony, and your ex-spouse has now begun to cohabit with another person, you may petition to terminate alimony payments. However, you can’t suddenly terminate these payments without approaching the court. You have to file a motion to terminate the alimony payments.
You must also provide evidence to a Dallas judge that your spouse is currently living with another person. If the judge finds that your ex-spouse is indeed in a cohabiting relationship with another person, he may decide to terminate the alimony order.
For questions about alimony, retirement and 401K payments after divorce, or child custody issues, speak with a family lawyer in Dallas. Call 214-265-7630 to discuss your case with Dallas attorney Julie Johnson.