Denver Divorce Lawyer News & Blog

Can My Actions Post-Divorce Change My Divorce Settlement?

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Judge with couple in courtSuppose you have been divorced for a while, and despite a couple road bumps, you and your ex-spouse get along well enough. When something comes up, you are sometimes willing to help, even if the help you are giving your ex is not specified in your divorce settlement agreement. Let’s say you are providing financial assistance despite a lack of an alimony (spousal maintenance) arrangement. Time goes on, and the relationship becomes more and more strained, so you do not want to provide that assistance anymore. Your ex plays their trump card ”“ you’ve set the precedent; you must continue to pay.

Your ex is wrong. It might not be in your ex’s best interest, but you have no legal obligation to continue to pay, provided that the payments are not included in your divorce settlement.

The Importance Of Your Divorce Settlement Agreement

The divorce settlement is the final determination of your obligations to your ex-spouse following divorce. That is why it is important for you to be active in the drafting of the agreement; to prevent uncomfortable situations in your future. A line in the agreement that seems like a throwaway could very well lead to loopholes ”“ every word counts in a divorce agreement.

When you are drafting the agreement with your lawyer, don’t be afraid to ask questions about anything you don’t understand. Articulate your needs and demands. Otherwise, you stand a good chance of having those needs ignored.

If something should arise in the future, you will know that you have your divorce settlement standing by to protect you.