Alimony is determined by your standard of living. For example, if your spouse cannot live by the standards that they became accustomed to when you were married, you will have to pay alimony in order to uphold the standard they are used to. It doesn't mean that you are at fault for the divorce, it just means that you took financial care of your soon-to-be ex while you were married. Alimony isn't a forever thing, however. You won't have to hand over the money for the rest of your life. Below are a specific situations where you would no longer be required to pay alimony each month.

Grown Children

In cases of divorce where children are involved, you may be ordered to pay alimony to your spouse until your children no longer need the supervision of a full-time parent. With young children, it is difficult for the other parent to find work because of daycare costs, schooling and after school scheduling and other costs that are associated in the care of the child. Especially if your spouse is a stay-at-home parent, it can prove to be difficult to find work. Once your children are at the age where they no longer need constant supervision, the judge can order your alimony be stopped.

Remarriage

You may have to continue to pay alimony until your soon-to-be ex spouse remarries. While they are still single, they have no one to uphold the standard of living that you gave them. However, once your spouse is rejoined in marriage, a new spouse will begin to financially support them. At that time, you will no longer be financially responsible for their way of life.

No Effort

When you divorce, your spouse needs to make some sort of effort to become self-sufficient on their own. Whether it's a part-time job or going to school full time, your spouse needs to prove that they are doing what they can in order to maintain their own life. If after a certain amount of time, your ex spouse has made no effort to better their life on their own, you may go back to court and request your alimony payments be stopped. At that time, the judge will go over your case, ask your ex for evidence regarding their own financial standing and strides made and will make the determination whether or not you can stop paying alimony.

Just because you are the one ordered to pay alimony doesn't mean you are at fault that the marriage didn't last. It only means you upheld a certain standard of living that your spouse grew dependent on. You won't have to pay this amount forever. Above are the specific reasons why a judge could order the alimony be stopped.

For more information, contact Blumenauer Hackworth or a similar firm.