Modification of Alimony
When awarding alimony, the courts analyze the finances of each spouse and determine a fair payment amount. Although the payment amount may be fair at the time it was ordered, circumstances can change drastically, leaving one spouse in need of an increase or decrease in the amount of awarded.
If you are receiving or paying alimony and there has been a substantial change in your circumstances or income, you may be eligible for a modification of payments. It would be beneficial to consult with a Chester County divorce attorney who could give you informed legal advice throughout the process.
Chester County Alimony Adjustment Lawyer
The knowledgeable family law attorneys at Ciccarelli Law Offices are well versed in all matters concerning alimony in Pennsylvania. Call (610) 692-8700 or send an online message for a free consultation so we can act as soon as possible. We are based in West Chester PA and serve clients throughout Chester County, Lancaster County and suburban Philadelphia including West Chester, Kennett Square, Oxford, Avondale, Landenberg, West Grove, Paoli, Malvern, Downingtown, Coatesville, Exton, Parkesburg, Berwyn and Devon. We have convenient meeting locations in Lancaster, Philadelphia, Plymouth Meeting, Kennett Square, Malvern, Springfield, King of Prussia, and Radnor. Our family lawyers serve those with immediate legal needs in Chester County, Montgomery County, Delaware County and Lancaster County.
Pennsylvania’s Laws on Modifying Alimony
- Terms for Altering Alimony Payments
- Common Situations Where Pennsylvania Alimony is Modified
- Finding a Qualified Pennsylvania Attorney to Modify Spousal Payments
Terms for Altering Alimony Payments
In many cases, the terms of alimony are not permanent or nonadjustable in Pennsylvania. If either spouse goes through a substantial change, he or she may be eligible for a modification. These modifications can be either temporary or permanent, depending on the circumstances that lead to the necessary modification.
If the spouse who is receiving the financial assistance has a significant increase in their income, the spouse paying alimony may request that his or her payments be decreased. Also, it is common for the paying spouse to be granted a reduction in payments if he or she suffers a substantial decrease in income.
Common Situations Where Pennsylvania Alimony is Modified
As mentioned above, either the former husband or wife can have their payments modified. When seeking this process, the spouse must file a petition to the courts, requesting a hearing on the matter. The spouse who is requesting the alimony modification will then present his or her reason for the required modification in court.
Common reasons a spouse requests an alimony modification include:
- Inflation increases the recipient’s cost of living
- The alimony recipient enters into another marriage
- The paying spouse loses his or her job and can no longer afford to make the payments
- The recipient gets a job with an increased salary and is no longer in need of alimony
- Either spouse becomes disabled
- There is a medical emergency
- The paying spouse remarries and has a child, and the alimony payments make it difficult to support his own family
- If the spouse receiving alimony has custody over a child, and the child becomes sick or injured and needs medical attention, the spouse receiving alimony can request a temporary increase to pay for medical bills
Finding a Qualified Pennsylvania Attorney to Modify Spousal Payments
If your financial stability is being drastically compromised due to the amount of alimony you are receiving or paying, contact the Ciccarelli Law Offices. Our team of family law attorneys will work around the clock to ensure that your case is presented in a manner that best protects your short-term and long-term interests.
Serving the communities of West Chester, Lancaster, Downingtown, Exton, Coatesville, King of Prussia, Plymouth Square, and Delco, among others, our attorneys always strive to provide the communication and counsel you critically need. Contact them today at (610) 692-8700 to schedule your free consultation.