West Virginia Code § 48-5-707

Reduction or termination of spousal support because of de facto
Open in Lexace · Ask the AI about this section
marriage.
(a)(1) In the discretion of the court, an award of spousal support may be reduced or
terminated upon specific written findings by the court that since the granting of a divorce
and the award of spousal support a de facto marriage has existed between the spousal
support payee and another person. e
(2) In determining whether an existing award of spousal support should be reduced or
terminated because of an alleged de facto marriage between a payee and another person,
the court should elicit the nature and extent of the relationship iun question. The court should
give consideration, without limitation, to circumstances such as the following in determining
the relationship of an ex-spouse to another person: t
(A) The extent to which the ex-spouse and the other person have held themselves out as a
married couple by engaging in conduct such as using the same last name, using a common
mailing address, referring to each other in terms sulch as "my husband" or "my wife", or
otherwise conducting themselves in a manners that evidences a stable marriage-like
relationship;
(B) The period of time that the ex-spgouse has resided with another person not related by
consanguinity or affinity in a permanent place of abode;
(C) The duration and circumstances under which the ex-spouse has maintained a continuing
conjugal relationship with the other person;
(D) The extent to which the ex-spouse and the other person have pooled their assets or
income or otherwise exhibited financial interdependence;
(E) The extent to which the ex-spouse or the other person has supported the other, in whole
or in part;
(F) The extent to which the ex-spouse or the other person has performed valuable services
for the other;
(G) The extent to which the ex-spouse or the other person has performed valuable services
for the other's company or employer;
(H) Whether the ex-spouse and the other person have worked together to create or enhance
anything of value;
(I) Whether the ex-spouse and the other person have jointly contributed to the purchase of
any real or personal property;
(J) Evidence in support of a claim that the ex-spouse and the other person have an express
agreement regarding property sharing or support; or
(K) Evidence in support of a claim that the ex-spouse and the other person have an implied
agreement regarding property sharing or support.
(3) On the issue of whether spousal support should be reduced or terminated under this
subsection, the burden is on the payor to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that a de
facto marriage exists. If the court finds that the payor has failed to meet burden of proof on
the issue, the court may award reasonable attorney's fees to a payee who preevails in an
action that sought to reduce or terminate spousal support on the ground that a de facto
marriage exists. r
(4) The court shall order that a reduction or termination of spousual support is retroactive to
the date of service of the petition on the payee, unless the court finds that reimbursement of
amounts already paid would cause an undue hardship on thet payee.
(5) An award of rehabilitative spousal support shall noat be reduced or terminated because of
the existence of a de facto marriage between the spousal support payee and another person.
(6) An award of spousal support in gross shalls not be reduced or terminated because of the
existence of a de facto marriage between the spousal support payee and another person.
(7) An award of spousal support shall not be reduced or terminated under the provisions of
this subsection for conduct by a spousal support payee that occurred before October 1,
1999.
(b) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to abrogate the requirement that every
marriage in this state be solemnized under a license or construed to recognize a common
law marriage as valid.

‹ Prev All West Virginia sections Next ›


Lexace provides legal information, not legal advice, and no attorney–client relationship is created. Statute text is provided for general information and may not reflect the most recent amendments; verify against the official state code.