Gayet v. Gayet

The opinion of the Court was delivered by

O’HERN, J.

We are asked to determine whether cohabitation by a divorced spouse affects that spouse’s existing alimony award. We agree *150with the Appellate Division that the test for modification of alimony is whether the relationship has reduced the financial needs of the dependent former spouse. We therefore affirm that court’s judgment reversing the trial court ruling that reduced and ultimately eliminated alimony in proportion to the amount of time the new parties lived together.

By judgment of divorce entered July 18, 1978, the defendant-husband was…