---
title: How does remarriage impact a divorce agreement?
description: Once your divorce is final, you may be anxious to get on with your life and enter into a new relationship. However, it is important to understand how a remarriage could affect your divorce agreement in Virginia, so you make…
url: "https://www.questlawoffice.com/faqs/remarriage/"
updated: "2023-01-09"
category: Family Law FAQs
---

# How does remarriage impact a divorce agreement?

Once your divorce is final, you may be anxious to get on with your life and enter into a new relationship. However, it is important to understand how a remarriage could affect your divorce agreement in Virginia, so you make the right decisions for your situation. 

## How Alimony Is Affected by a Remarriage

If alimony was awarded in your divorce, a remarriage can dramatically change the obligation to pay [spousal support](https://www.questlawoffice.com/child-and-spousal-support-in-a-virginia-divorce/). This depends on whether you are the supported or paying spouse. Here is what could happen:

- **Supported spouse**. If you were awarded alimony in your divorce and remarry, your right to financial support will automatically stop.

- **Paying spouse**. If you were ordered to pay alimony and remarry, you will still have an obligation to pay alimony to your ex-spouse. However, you may be able to obtain a modification of the amount you pay if you can show that it is a hardship to continue with your current payments.

## How Child Custody and Visitation Can Be Impacted

A remarriage will not always change the child custody and visitation provisions in a divorce judgment. In making any decision on custody or parenting time, the judge must always be guided [by the best interests of the child](https://www.questlawoffice.com/child-in-a-virginia-custody-case/).

The remarriage by itself may not be considered a big enough change in circumstances to modify the agreement. However, if the stepparent poses a danger to a child or there is less stability in the household, a judge could decide that a change is justified to protect the child.

## Child Support Obligations and Remarriage

A remarriage does not change a parent’s obligation to pay child support after a divorce. The amount of child support to be paid will be based on the income of both parents of the child.

However, if a person remarries and has a child with his new spouse, this can affect the amount of child support he pays. Because the parent paying child support now has another dependent child to support, a reduction in child support payments may be warranted.

Additionally, if a stepparent adopts his stepchild after the remarriage, the biological parent’s child support obligations would terminate after the adoption.

Do you have questions about how a remarriage could affect your divorce? I am an experienced [divorce lawyer in Midlothian, VA](https://www.questlawoffice.com/filing-for-divorce-in-virginia/) who can answer your questions and take the necessary steps to protect your legal rights in your divorce or other family law matter. To learn more about how I can help, fill out my online form to schedule an appointment today.