Stopping Maintenance Payments for my Ex Wife

rslegge

Hi,

My ex wife and myself split up and divorced 9 years ago. Since then I have made maintenance payments for her, although this has always been on a voluntary basis rather than a court order.

Now her partner has moved in with her permantly, and has been living with her for the last 6 months. (incidentally in the house I still own half of!)

I am looking for advice on whether I can now stop payments to her? whether I have to wait until this chap has been living there for a period of time? Whether she has the right to go to court stop me ceasing payments?

Many Thanks
R

kayaitch

If there are no children involved and the payments are solely for your ex then I would say yes, since she now has someone living with her you can stop the payments - maintenance payments are usually until such time as the ex-partner remarries or has been cohabiting for 6 months. If you just stopped paying I don't think she would be able to object, but it would be prudent to let her know your intention to do so.