Alimony Term Extensions Are Limited in New Alimony Modification

Recent modifications to alimony in Massachusetts are undoubtedly bringing about a statewide and even national spotlight on family law in Massachusetts.

One of the many highly publicized points of the modification is in regards to alimony extensions. The bill reads, "The court may grant a recipient an extension of an existing alimony order for good cause shown. In granting extension, the court must enter written findings of: (i) A material change of circumstance that occurred after entry of the alimony judgment; and (ii) Reasons for the extension that are supported by clear and convincing evidence." In other words, the extending of alimony will be much more strictly surveyed than before.

Factors such as co-habitation and remarriage of the recipient limit alimony's ability to be a lifelong struggle for divorcees as well. The most prominent of these factors is the alimony modification that correlates length of time married with length of time alimony must be paid/recieved.

All of these adjustments justify Massachusetts legislation's unanimous agreement with the Alimony Reform Act of 2011. To benefit, please contact Massachusetts alimony reform lawyer John Rauseo for a free consultation at Rauseo Law.