Can I Stop Paying Alimony If My Ex Gets Engaged?

 Posted on July 28, 2025 in Family Law

Alimony, or spousal maintenance as Illinois law calls it, is one of those obligations that can feel especially heavy after a divorce. If your ex gets engaged, it is natural to wonder if that means you can stop paying. The short answer? Not yet. Illinois courts have clear rules about when support ends, and engagement alone is not enough.

Under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (750 ILCS 5/), spousal maintenance helps a lower-earning spouse adjust financially after a marriage ends. But maintenance usually only ends if your ex remarries, starts living with someone in a marriage-like relationship, or if either of you passes away. Our Joliet, IL family lawyers can help you ask a court to end alimony if your condition qualifies.

Does Engagement End Alimony in Illinois?

Being engaged is not the same as being married in the eyes of the law. Until your ex actually remarries, you must keep paying unless you can show the court they are cohabiting, or living, with their fiancé.

Cohabitation means more than just spending time together. Courts look at whether your ex and their new partner share a home, combine finances, and act like a married couple in their daily lives. The judge will also consider how long and stable the relationship seems.

If you believe your ex is living with their fiancé, you can ask the court to end your payments. But the burden of proof falls on you. You will need evidence showing the relationship fits Illinois’s definition of cohabitation. This may include pictures, testimony from witnesses, your ex’s change of address, and more. 

What About Prenups or Postnups?

If you and your ex signed a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement that specifically says when alimony ends, the court will likely follow it. Some agreements include specific language about engagement or remarriage. Without such a contract, the judge uses state law and evidence of remarriage or cohabitation to decide.

It is critical not to stop paying support on your own. Doing so without a court order could lead to serious consequences, like contempt charges or wage garnishment.

Contact a Joliet, IL Family Lawyer for Ending Alimony Payments

At The Foray Firm, our Orland Park alimony attorney helps people navigate Illinois spousal maintenance laws with clarity and confidence. If you believe your ex’s new relationship could justify ending your payments, we can guide you through the process. Call our firm at 312-702-1293 to talk about your options.