Just because you are divorced, does not mean your divorce decree is set in stone. In fact, it is as ever-changing as your life will continue to be in the aftermath of your marriage’s dissolution. This is especially true when it comes to spousal support and child support. If you are wondering how or if remarriage might affect these payments, you are not alone in asking these questions. Here is what you need to know about the impact of remarriage on your divorce decree:
- Will I still pay child support if my ex-spouse gets remarried? Generally, remarriage will not have any impact on child support. That is because the court considers any shared children to be the responsibility of their parents and, as such, will base support on the incomes of both you and your former spouse. Therefore, even if your former spouse remarries someone who is wealthy, this will not let you off the hook in terms of your financial obligation to your children, nor will the court be persuaded to grant a reduction based on your spouse’s new marriage. If you truly need your payments to be modified, this decision will be based on any changes in your life, such as a decrease in income or loss of employment.
If your former spouse’s new husband or wife adopts your children and you relinquish your rights to them, you will no longer have to pay child support. This also means you will no longer be entitled to parenting time or involved in any decisions regarding their upbringing.
- Will my child support payments be impacted if I remarry? As is the case with the remarriage of your former spouse, your own remarriage will not impact your child custody payments since your children are only the responsibility of you and the other parent. However, if you begin a new family with your new partner, child support might be reduced since you would have to support your new family.
- If my former spouse remarries, will I still have to pay spousal support? Generally, remarriage will end your financial obligation to pay spousal support. Some divorce orders do not list remarriage as a terminating condition, however, so it is crucial to pay close attention to the language in yours to ensure this is the case. If you were to get remarried, on the other hand, you would still be obligated to pay spousal support.
Since no two divorces are alike, it is best to consult with a divorce attorney to understand the circumstances of your own specific case.
Madison Divorce Attorneys
At Balisle Family Law Legal Counsel, S.C., our skilled Madison family law attorneys are prepared to handle a wide range of family law matters and pride ourselves on our level of commitment to getting the results our clients deserve. You should not have to face these difficult legal matters on your own.
Contact our office today at (608) 765-1001 to learn more about your legal options.