Legal Information: Delaware

Divorce

Updated: 
December 8, 2020

Can an alimony award be modified (changed)?

Maybe. Alimony may be modified (changed) only if a party can show a real and substantial change of circumstances.1 For example, if the person ordered to pay alimony loses his/her job and can’t find another one, this might be a reason for a judge to reduce the amount of alimony s/he has to pay.

Note: If you fail to do something that you are required to do under a temporary order or the divorce decree, this does not mean that your spouse can just stop paying alimony. S/he may, however, go to court and ask the court to enforce the temporary order or decree or to ask for a suspension of your alimony payments if appropriate.2

1 13 Del.C. § 1519(a)(4)
2 13 Del.C. § 1520

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