If your divorce decree stipulates that your ex-spouse should pay you spousal support, you likely depend on these payments to balance your monthly budget. If your ex-spouse misses more than one spousal support payment, you may feel a financial strain that’s hard to ignore.
How many missed payments should you consider a red flag? While a single missed payment might be an oversight, repeated failures to pay can signal a deeper issue that you should look into. Understanding when to take action can help protect your financial stability and legal rights.
Occasional missed payments: A temporary setback or a warning sign?
Life circumstances, such as job loss or medical emergencies, can cause your ex-spouse to miss a payment. An occasional lapse may not be a cause for immediate alarm, especially if your ex-spouse communicates their situation and makes an effort to catch up. However, patterns of missed payments should prompt concern.
A single missed payment could be an oversight or a temporary financial difficulty. Legal action may be unnecessary if your ex-spouse acknowledges the lapse and makes arrangements to settle it. However, if you experience two consecutive missed payments, concern should increase. If your ex-spouse has not communicated or made efforts to rectify the situation, it may indicate deeper financial struggles or an unwillingness to comply with the agreement.
Three or more missed payments is a pattern of non-payment that’s a major red flag. Consistently missing spousal support obligations can signal financial irresponsibility, an intentional refusal to pay or an attempt to evade legal responsibilities. This is when you should seriously consider legal intervention from a hands-on legal team.
What to do if spousal support payments stop
If your former spouse has stopped making alimony payments, you should take proactive steps to address the issue. Before escalating the matter legally, reach out to your former spouse to understand the reason behind the missed payments.
While you wait for them to communicate, review the court order to find out if the payments are still legally mandated and that no modifications have been made. Suppose you notice hesitation from your former spouse; you should begin keeping records of missed payments, communication attempts and any agreements you tried to make.
A single missed spousal support payment may not necessarily cause alarm, but you should not ignore a consistent pattern. If your former spouse repeatedly fails to meet their obligations, taking timely action may prove to be important when it comes to protecting your financial security.
