How does cohabitation play a role in spousal support?

Cohabitation can play a role in spousal support in Washington. Spousal support, which is also known as alimony, is a court-ordered payment from one spouse to the other during or after a divorce. In Washington, the court considers a wide variety of factors when determining if either spouse is eligible for spousal support and how much they should receive. One of the factors the court considers is whether the receiving spouse is cohabitating with another partner. Cohabitation means that the receiving spouse lives with another person and they share the same living expenses, such as rent, groceries, utilities, etc. If the court finds that the receiving spouse is cohabitating with another partner, it may take this into consideration when determining the amount of spousal support. If the court finds that the receiving spouse is receiving financial support from the other partner, the court may reduce or eliminate spousal support or make it the responsibility of the cohabitating partner. Additionally, cohabitating can also end a spouse’s eligibility for spousal support. If the court finds that the receiving spouse has been cohabitating for a certain amount of time, the court may determine that the receiving spouse no longer needs or relies on spousal support and will terminate it. Although cohabitation can play a role in spousal support, it is not the only factor that the court considers when making a determination. Other factors include the length of the marriage, the age and health of the spouses, the earning potential of each spouse, and the contributions of each spouse to the marriage.

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How does cohabitation play a role in spousal support?

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