Right after your divorce proceedings, I’m pretty sure you have been reciting this line in your head a million times: “I have to know how to end my obligation to pay alimony.” I’m sure this is also a line that you’ve told your lawyer. Judging by the fact that you’re on this page, I’m certain you were told that there’s nothing you can do about it, that you cannot end your obligation to pay for spousal support.  Well, I’m happy to tell you that your lawyer was absolutely wrong. You can end your obligation to pay alimony; you just have to know how to do it properly.

The Only Rule to Follow: Show Cause to Reduce Support
According to the lawyers at Dishon and Block Divorce Attorneys, there’s one great plan that will surely make you succeed in terminating spousal support. All you have to do is file an order to show cause to reduce support, and you’d be good to go.

These are the following circumstances that may work as a valid cause for terminating support:

  1. Significant financial changes in the life of the supporting spouse.
    Losing your paycheck as a result of being laid off from your job is a valid cause to end your alimony obligations. One successful case handled by lawyer Aaron Dishon involved a husband ordered to support his ex-wife and child with an amount that’s ludicrously higher than his unemployment benefits. The court ruled in favor of the husband, terminating spousal support and dramatically reducing child support fees as a result.

  2. Significant romantic development in the life of the supported spouse.
    Cohabitation with a lover presents strong grounds in the termination of spousal support. For this reason, it’s good to be inquisitive about the romantic involvements of your ex-spouse. One case handled by Aaron Dishon was largely successful because the client’s ex-wife was cohabiting with a man, as the court immediately ordered the termination of support upon learning the information.

  3. Lacking efforts in self-sufficiency.
    It’s easy to miss the “Gavron Warning” supposedly issued by the court to supported spouses. This Warning prescribes a period wherein the supported spouse must gain employment in order to be self-sufficient. In the same breath, he or she must also undergo “vocational assessment” that determines his or her capability to find a job.

Make the Best Preparations
While California’s divorce laws are just and unbiased, it’s an entirely a different story when the courts are concerned. Most judges are still gender-biased. This observation was noted by divorce lawyer Aaron Dishon, as most of the rulings against men are heavier compared to rulings made against women. Dishon then advises that in order to counter such bias, supporting husbands must effectively show cause to reduce or altogether terminate spousal support.

To succeed in your goal in terminating alimony obligations, it’s best to be prepared with all the data and evidence that will guarantee your success. It’s also wise to get a lawyer who understands what you want and who is genuinely concerned in helping you achieve the set goals.

Time for a New Beginning
Following this simple strategy, you could now take steps in terminating spousal support. This time, you could finally tell your friends, “I finally know how to end my obligation to pay alimony!” with much excitement and hope. You deserve a new life after your divorce, and being free of alimony, you can finally start fresh with a clean slate.

About the Author: Jason Munroe became an expert on divorce when he began helping a friend do some in-depth research on reducing spousal support in California. Based in Nevada, Jason is a freelance writer who is passionate about topics that interest him. He enjoys spending time with his beautiful wife and two grown children. This article was written by a guest author. Would you like to, submit a guest blog post?