Almost any reduction in income does constitute a valid reason. If you’re just making a few thousand dollars less or maybe $10,000 less, it’s sort of your comfort level and it depends how much you’re paying for spousal support. But $10,000 less could be a huge number if your income was 50,000 and now it’s 40,000; if your income was $200,000 and now it’s $190,000, it may not be a significant difference. It’s sort of the percentage difference that makes it really difficult for you to continue to pay the amount of support that you were ordered to pay.
It’s a case-by-case basis. If you haven’t completely lost your job, if your income is down but it’s not cut in half or something huge like that, then you’re probably going to see a change or a lowering in the spousal support award but not a complete termination, so that’s kind of what you’re looking at – modifying it to make it a lower number but not terminating it completely.
Laura Schantz is a family law attorney and mediator practicing in Beaverton, Oregon. To learn more about Laura Schantz and her firm, Schantz Law P.C., visit www.oregondivorceattorney.com.
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