After a judgment has been ordered by the court for alimony there are certain situations where either party may take action to modify the judgment.[1] For a party to be successful on a claim for alimony modification, the party must prove to the court that there has been a material change in circumstances that as a result renders a change in alimony just.[2] A judge will then consider all relevant factors to decide if a modification of alimony is appropriate.[3] One of the many factors the court will consider when modifying an existing order is chronic illness or unusual health circumstances of either party.[4]
Health modifications:
Since alimony is modifiable, the court has discretion to change the amount being paid in situations where the health of a party affects his or her ability to earn an income. When the party receiving alimony payments suffers from a severe mental illness, courts have been inclined to award a more generous alimony amount than if the party were in good health.[5] Hence, the judge will consider how severe the mental illness is and how it affects the receiving party’s earning capacity and ability to secure and maintain employment.[6]
In one Massachusetts case, Vedensky v. Vedensky, because the husband’s severe mental illness prevented him from working at his former level, the wife was ordered to pay an amount that exceeded her expected alimony payment. Similarly, a more generous alimony payment has been awarded in situations where the receiving party’s ability to work was compromised due to a physical illness.[7]
Courts have also been known to decrease or eliminate alimony obligations if the party making the payments is experiencing health issues. Where the health of a paying party results in a significant financial hardship, courts have found this to be a material change in circumstances.[8] The court will consider how the parties health affects their ability to work and subsequently their inability to continue making the payments.[9] After evaluating the status of the party’s health coupled with other significant factors, the court may decrease the payments or terminate them altogether.[10] Ultimately, it is up to the courts discretion to determine if the health of either party results in a material change in circumstances that should result in a modification of alimony.
Contact us:
Are you looking for an experienced Newburyport or Andover divorce lawyer or family law attorney? If you need more information about the Massachusetts alimony law or about family law generally, you may schedule a free consultation with our office. Call 978-225-9030 during regular business hours or complete a contact form, and our competent family law attorneys will respond to your phone call or submission promptly.
[1] Mass. Ann. Laws ch. 208, § 37 (discussing situations where a revision of judgement of alimony would occur).
[2] Bercume v. Bercume, 428 Mass. 635, 704 N.E.2d 177 (1999) citing Schuler v. Schuler, 382 Mass. 366, 416 N.E.2d 197 (1981) (laying out the standard for material change in circumstance).
[3] Id.
[4] Mass. Ann. Laws ch. 208, § 53
[5] Vedensky v. Vedensky, 86 Mass. App. Ct. 768, 22 N.E.3d 951 (2014) (showing an example of a time the court did not abuse their discretion when modifying alimony due to mental illness)
[6] Moran v. Moran, 612 A.2d 26 (R.I. 1992) (showing a situation where a mental illness affected a parties ability to earn income.).
[7] Hogan v. Hogan, 822 A.2d 925 (R.I. 2003) (describing a situation where wife suffered from multiple sclerosis, compromising her ability to work).
[8] Parrett v. Parrett, Conn. Super. (Super. Ct. Oct. 14, 2009).
[9] ARTICLE: Reforming Alimony: Massachusetts Reconsiders Postdivorce Spousal Support, 46 Suffolk U. L. Rev. 13 citing Parrett v. Parrett, No. FA780159581S, 2009 Conn. Super. LEXIS 2855 (Super. Ct. Oct. 14, 2009) (After a 30 year alimony obligation, the obligor obligation to pay alimony ended due to hi a showing of his severe health problems).
[10] Id. at 7