When Alimony Stops
Massachusetts alimony laws changed drastically in March 2012. One of the big changes was the ability to modify life time alimony orders[1]. Alimony used to only have one duration, for life. Those currently paying alimony should know how changes in the law could affect their alimony payments.
Lifetime Alimony Time Limits
The new time limits for previously lifetime awards of alimony are easily described in the chart below:
| Length of Marriage in Years | Maximum Years of Alimony | Maximum Months of Alimony |
| 1 | 0.5 | 6 |
| 2 | 1 | 12 |
| 3 | 1.5 | 18 |
| 4 | 2 | 24 |
| 5 | 2.5 | 30 |
| 6 | 3.6 | 44 |
| 7 | 4.2 | 51 |
| 8 | 4.8 | 58 |
| 9 | 5.4 | 65 |
| 10 | 6 | 72 |
| 11 | 7.7 | 93 |
| 12 | 8.4 | 101 |
| 13 | 9.1 | 110 |
| 14 | 9.8 | 118 |
| 15 | 10.5 | 126 |
| 16 | 12.8 | 154 |
| 17 | 13.6 | 164 |
| 18 | 14.4 | 173 |
| 19 | 15.2 | 183 |
| 20 | 16 | 192 |
| 20 or more | Indefinite | Indefinite |
Other Stopping Points For Alimony
The three primary ways in which alimony may be terminated early are: (1) retirement of the paying spouse, (2) remarriage of the recipient spouse, or (3) death of either person.
Retirement
Alimony will end when the payor spouse reaches retirement age, even if the spouse could or does continue working. Retirement age is determined by the United States Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program and is currently 66 years old.
Remarriage
Alimony will terminate upon the remarriage of the recipient spouse.
In the event of the payor’s remarriage, income and assets of the payor’s new spouse will not be considered in a redetermination of alimony.
Death
Alimony will terminate upon death of either person. However, the court may require the payor spouse to provide life insurance or another form of security for payment of future alimony to the recipient spouse in the event the payor dies owing alimony.
Attorney Callis has been practicing law in Massachusetts and abroad since 2007.
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