An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Award of Spousal Support in Divorce Actions
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 19-A MRSA §951-A, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 634, §3, is amended to read:
4. Modification. An award of spousal support issued before October 1, 2013 is subject to modification when it appears that justice requires unless and to the extent the order awarding or modifying spousal support expressly states that the award, in whole or in part, is not subject to future modification. An award of spousal support issued on or after October 1, 2013 is subject to modification when it appears that justice requires.
Sec. 2. 19-A MRSA §951-A, sub-§12 is enacted to read:
12. Cessation upon cohabitation. When it appears that justice requires, an order awarding spousal support is subject to modification to terminate spousal support when it can be shown that the payee and another person have entered into a mutually supportive relationship that is the functional equivalent of marriage that has existed for at least 12 months of a period of 18 consecutive months.
Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 126th Legislature, First Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.