You may have been on top of your monthly alimony payments since your divorce has been finalized. After all, the New York State Family Court should have calculated a fair and manageable order amount given your financial situation at the time of your divorce proceedings. However, the times may have changed since then, and you may have experienced financial fluctuations both good and bad. For one, you may have unexpectedly gotten let go from your job. In a case like this, you may need a change to your currently standing alimony order. For this, please follow along to find out how to modify your alimony order after a job loss and how a proficient New York City alimony attorney at Zimmet Law Group, P.C. can help you navigate the waters of this very difficult situation.
How can I modify my alimony order after a recent job loss?
Importantly, you cannot negotiate a modified alimony agreement exclusively between yourself and your former spouse. Also, you cannot simply stop making your monthly alimony payments simply because you undergo a shift in your financial status. Rather, to formally modify your alimony order after a recent job loss, you must file a petition for a post-judgment modification with the New York State Family Court.
Namely, you would likely have to file with the same court that issued your original alimony order in your divorce case. It is also worth mentioning that you should submit this request as soon as you get notified of your job termination. This is because the post-judgment modification process may be extensive, with having to follow all court procedures, attend court hearings, and wait to hear the court’s final decision. Plus, during this time, you must comply with your standing alimony order until a modification is officially granted, if one is at all.
What supporting evidence do I need for my post-judgment modification?
You do not have grounds for a post-judgment modification if you cannot provide evidence regarding your recent job loss and the overall change to your financial capacity. That is, to better your chances of getting your monthly alimony payments lessened, at least temporarily, you may have to provide the New York State Family Court with the following pieces of supporting evidence:
- You must have supporting evidence that you indeed got terminated from your current employment (i.e., proof of a termination letter, bank statements with absent direct deposits, etc).
- You must have supporting evidence that your recent job loss was for a reason beyond your reasonable control (i.e., there were budget cuts at your company).
- You must have supporting evidence that you are actively searching for new employment opportunities in your field (i.e., proof of application submissions and interview attendance).
You should know that one of the talented New York City matrimonial and family law attorneys is here to assist you with whatever your legal issue may be. So please reach out to us at Zimmet Law Group, P.C. today.
