While Georgia law is clear about what happens to alimony when your spouse remarries, cohabitation is a different matter altogether. Moving in with someone new could be considered a change in circumstances and may affect alimony payments. However, that impact is not automatic and you must petition the court to get relief. A knowledgeable divorce attorney can help you understand your rights. Learn more in this blog about how cohabitation can affect court-ordered alimony and what steps to take.
When your ex-spouse moves in with a new romantic partner, Georgia’s “live-in lover law” could affect the amount you pay for alimony. That means that a family court judge could modify your payments, but only if the recipient is openly and continuously—not occasionally—cohabitating with someone as though they were married. The partner who pays alimony must prove that a serious relationship exists in order to pursue a modification, with evidence like shared living expenses or proof of an intimate relationship. These guidelines apply regardless of the other person’s gender.
After a divorce, one or both partners need to find a new place to live. However, if your former spouse’s new roommate is their romantic partner, you may have grounds to modify your periodic alimony payments. If you believe your former spouse is in a meretricious or marriage-like relationship, it is important to gather as much evidence as you can. Utility bills, bank statements, social media posts, and witness testimonies are all excellent ways to prove an alimony modification is appropriate in your case.
Now that you have more information about the impact of cohabitation on alimony in Georgia, it is time to contact the intake team at the Atlanta Divorce Law Group for a free consultation. We can discuss your unique situation and help you determine what steps to take next.
Our experienced Atlanta, Georgia divorce and family lawyers understand that divorce may be a complicated, emotional time for you. Many important decisions need to be made that consider your current situation as well as your future.
An attorney can work to help you emerge from your divorce in a better financial, legal, and personal situation than you may have imagined. Call today to schedule a consultation.
