The Supreme Judicial Court has just rendered its decision on the modification of judgements on alimony for cases that predate the Alimony Reform Act. Decisions on three cases, Chin v. Merriot (SJC 11715), Rodman v. Rodman (SJC 11726), and Doktor v. Doktor (SJC 11727), were handed down from the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court today.
My quick read of the decisions indicates that the 2011 Alimony Reform Act does not apply retroactively to cases filed before the law went into effect on March 1, 2012. Additionally, the mere fact of either cohabitation OR reaching retirement age alone is NOT sufficient to modify alimony. There still needs to be a material change in circumstances.
If, however, the durational limits of alimony under the act have been met, then the law applies.
Stand by for a longer, more "lawyerly" blog on this next week.
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