There are few things more stressful than losing a job. This stress is frequently exacerbated when the person who lost their job has an alimony obligation. Read on and reach out to an experienced Los Angeles divorce attorney from Zitser Family Law Group, APC to learn more about whether you can modify your alimony agreement if you recently lost your job.
Do I have to continue paying alimony if I lost my job?
In short, the answer is, “it depends.” To get a better idea of whether you’ll have to continue paying alimony after losing your job, we should first take a look at how alimony is initially determined in California. Courts will consider a wide array of factors when deciding on an alimony agreement. Just some of those are the duration of your marriage, the standard of living established in the marriage, your earning capacity, whether the couple has a child custody or support agreement in place, both spouses’ age and health, and, of course, your yearly salaries. This brings us to the heart of the question.
If you recently lost your job, rather obviously, you currently do not have a salary at all. That said, simply losing a job isn’t enough to modify an alimony agreement. The circumstances surrounding your loss of a job will largely determine whether you qualify for an alimony modification. For example, if you were fired from your job because you were caught stealing or otherwise disregarding workplace rules, you most likely won’t qualify for a modification. This is because anyone seeking a modification will have to prove that they incurred a significant and unforeseen change in circumstances. If you could’ve prevented getting fired by following the code of conduct, getting fired won’t be seen as an unforeseen change in circumstances. The same is true if you simply quit your job because you weren’t happy there or were bored of it.
That said, if you can prove that you lose your job due to unforeseen circumstances, such as you got laid off because work was slow or you developed a serious medical condition that prevents you from returning to work, courts may permit an alimony modification.
If you believe you qualify for an alimony modification, get in touch with an experienced Los Angeles post-judgment modifications attorney here at our firm today.
Contact our experienced Los Angeles firm
Divorce and family law issues are notoriously complicated and personal, which is why you must hire an attorney with years of experience, as well as the compassion and skill needed to handle these sensitive matters. For the qualified, dedicated legal representation you and your family deserve and need, contact Zitser Family Law Group, APC today.
