Is it possible to avoid paying alimony?

You want to get divorced, but you don’t want to pay alimony. You see no reason you should have to support your ex after the two of you aren’t even a couple anymore.

But can you get out of it? There are some ways that people do it, but they may not all work in your situation.

Prenups

The first and perhaps the best option is to get a prenuptial agreement before you get married in the first place. Specify that you won’t have to pay anything in alimony in the event of a divorce, and have your spouse sign.

Postnups

If you’re already married, it’s too late for a prenup, but you may still be able to get a postnuptial agreement if the divorce process hasn’t started yet. If your spouse will sign, you can avoid payments.

Quit your job

It may be shocking, but some people who don’t want to pay alimony call it quits at work. With no income and no history of income through the marriage, there’s no basis to make you pay. Obviously, the huge downside here is that having no income at all means you have far less than if you just kept working and paid alimony, but that hasn’t stopped people from doing it.

Wait for your ex to get married

Usually, when a person who is getting alimony payments gets married again, or moves in with another person and obtains that financial support, alimony payments may be stopped. You may not be thrilled to see your ex with someone else, but it can help you financially.

As you work through the divorce process and consider alimony, be sure you fully understand all of your legal options and your rights.

Source: Love to Know, “How to Avoid Alimony,” Marcelina Hardy, accessed Dec. 27, 2017