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<leg xml:space="preserve" billnum="SB0059" sponsor="Lincoln Fillmore" designation="SB" otherSponsor="Paul A. Cutler" otherHouse="House" sess="2026GS" fileno="2026FL0332" date="12/30/2025 09:12:573" printDate="02-17 10:44" subVer="0" minVer="0" office="LEGISLATIVE GENERAL COUNSEL" actionDate="" impact="code"><info><nextbuid>5</nextbuid><aminfo anum="0" effdate="05/06/2026"><seclist><sect action="A" src="code" buid="3" uid="C81-4-S502_2026050620260506" fromuid="C81-4-S502_2024090120240501" sort="81 04 05020020260506" mtype="section" effdate="05/06/2026">81-4-502</sect><sect action="A" src="code" buid="1" uid="C81-4-S505_2026050620260506" fromuid="C81-4-S505_2024090120240501" sort="81 04 05050020260506" mtype="section" effdate="05/06/2026">81-4-505</sect><sect src="uncod" untype="effdate" buid="4" uid="EF0000" sort="UZEFF" mtype="uncod" effdate="05/06/2026"/></seclist></aminfo></info><tbox><sinfo><nextpairid>0</nextpairid></sinfo><st numlevel="1" lineno="1" slineno="0-1">Alimony Amendments</st><sessionhead>2026 GENERAL SESSION</sessionhead><statehead>STATE OF UTAH</statehead><sponsorhead>Chief Sponsor: Lincoln Fillmore</sponsorhead><otherSponsorhead>House Sponsor: Paul A. Cutler</otherSponsorhead></tbox><lt numlevel="1" lineno="2" slineno="0-2"><lthead lineno="3">LONG TITLE</lthead><gdhead lineno="4">General Description:</gdhead><gd numlevel="1" lineno="5" slineno="0-5">This bill addresses alimony.</gd><hphead lineno="6">Highlighted Provisions:</hphead><hp numlevel="1" lineno="7" slineno="0-7">This bill:<hl numlevel="1" lineno="8" slineno="0-8" level="1">requires a court to consider the tax consequences of alimony on each party when <ln numlevel="1" lineno="9" slineno="0-9"/>determining or modifying alimony; and</hl><hl numlevel="1" lineno="10" slineno="0-10" level="1">addresses the effect of cohabitation on alimony.</hl></hp><moni numlevel="1" lineno="11" slineno="0-11" display="none">Money Appropriated in this Bill:</moni><moniNone lineno="12">None</moniNone><oc numlevel="1" lineno="13" slineno="0-13">Other Special Clauses:</oc><ocNone lineno="14">None</ocNone><sa numlevel="1" lineno="15" slineno="0-15">Utah Code Sections Affected:<saamd numlevel="1" lineno="16" slineno="0-16"><snhead>AMENDS:</snhead><sn num="81-4-502" src="code" uid="C81-4-S502_2026050620260506" buid="3" sort="81 04 05020020260506" numlevel="1" lineno="17" slineno="0-17"><bold>81-4-502</bold>, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 366</sn><sn num="81-4-505" src="code" uid="C81-4-S505_2026050620260506" buid="1" sort="81 04 05050020260506" numlevel="1" lineno="18" slineno="0-18"><bold>81-4-505</bold>, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 366</sn></saamd></sa></lt><enacthead lineno="19"/><enact numlevel="1" lineno="20" slineno="0-20">Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:</enact><bdy><bsec buid="3" num="81-4-502" type="amend" src="code" uid="C81-4-S502_2026050620260506" sort="81 04 05020020260506" numlevel="1" lineno="21" slineno="1-1" sn="1"><section number="81-4-502" numlevel="1" lineno="22" slineno="1-2" type="amend"><secline lineno="21">Section 1. Section <bold>81-4-502</bold> is amended to read:</secline><catline lineno="22"><bold>81-4-502<parens/>. Determination of alimony.</bold></catline><subsection ssid="3-null-1" dnum="1-o" numlevel="1" lineno="23" slineno="1-3" level="1" placement="noreturn"><display>(1)</display>For a proceeding under Chapter 4, Dissolution of Marriage, or in a proceeding to <ln numlevel="1" lineno="24" slineno="1-4"/>modify alimony, the court shall consider at least the following factors in determining <ln numlevel="1" lineno="25" slineno="1-5"/>alimony:<subsection ssid="3-null-2" dnum="a-o" numlevel="1" lineno="26" slineno="1-6" level="2"><display>(a)</display>the standard of living existing during the marriage, which factors shall include the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="27" slineno="1-7"/>following:<subsection ssid="3-null-3" dnum="i-o" numlevel="1" lineno="28" slineno="1-8" level="3"><display>(i)</display>income;</subsection><subsection ssid="3-null-4" dnum="ii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="29" slineno="1-9" level="3"><display>(ii)</display>the approximate value of real and personal property; and</subsection><subsection ssid="3-null-5" dnum="iii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="30" slineno="1-10" level="3"><display>(iii)</display>any other factor that the court determines to be appropriate to enable the court to <ln numlevel="1" lineno="31" slineno="1-11"/>make a determination of the standard of living existing during the marriage;</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="3-null-6" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="32" slineno="1-12" level="2"><display>(b)</display>the financial condition and needs of the payee, provided that the payee may show <ln numlevel="1" lineno="33" slineno="1-13"/>financial needs by itemizing expenses present during the marriage rather than by <ln numlevel="1" lineno="34" slineno="1-14"/>itemizing post petition expenses;</subsection><subsection ssid="3-null-7" dnum="c-o" numlevel="1" lineno="35" slineno="1-15" level="2"><display>(c)</display>the payee's earning capacity or ability to produce income, including the impact of <ln numlevel="1" lineno="36" slineno="1-16"/>diminished workplace experience resulting from primarily caring for a minor child of <ln numlevel="1" lineno="37" slineno="1-17"/>the payor;</subsection><subsection ssid="3-null-8" dnum="d-o" numlevel="1" lineno="38" slineno="1-18" level="2"><display>(d)</display>the ability of the payor to provide support;</subsection><subsection ssid="3-37" dnum="_-o:e-i" numlevel="1" lineno="39" slineno="1-19" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="ahaskell" style="1" level="2"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1008" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(e)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="3" groupid="3" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="end">the tax consequences of alimony on each party;</amend></subsection><subsection ssid="3-null-9" dnum="e-o:f-i" numlevel="1" lineno="40" slineno="1-20" level="2"><display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1009" style="2" owner="o" level="1" deltag="both">(e)</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1010" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">(f)</amend></display>the length of the marriage;</subsection><subsection ssid="3-null-10" dnum="f-o:g-i" numlevel="1" lineno="41" slineno="1-21" level="2"><display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1010" style="2" owner="o" level="1" deltag="both">(f)</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1011" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">(g)</amend></display>whether the payee has custody of a minor child requiring support;</subsection><subsection ssid="3-null-11" dnum="g-o:h-i" numlevel="1" lineno="42" slineno="1-22" level="2"><display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1011" style="2" owner="o" level="1" deltag="both">(g)</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1012" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">(h)</amend></display>whether the payee worked in a business owned or operated by the payor; and</subsection><subsection ssid="3-null-12" dnum="h-o:i-i" numlevel="1" lineno="43" slineno="1-23" level="2"><display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1012" style="2" owner="o" level="1" deltag="both">(h)</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1013" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">(i)</amend></display>whether the payee directly contributed to any increase in the payor's skill by <ln numlevel="1" lineno="44" slineno="1-24"/>paying for education received by the payor or enabling the payor to attend school <ln numlevel="1" lineno="45" slineno="1-25"/>during the marriage.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="3-null-13" dnum="2-o" numlevel="1" lineno="46" slineno="1-26" level="1" space="false"><display>(2)</display><subsection ssid="3-null-14" dnum="a-o" level="2" placement="sameline"><display>(a)</display>The court may consider the fault of the parties in determining whether to award <ln numlevel="1" lineno="47" slineno="1-27"/>alimony and the terms of the alimony.</subsection><subsection ssid="3-null-15" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="48" slineno="1-28" level="2"><display>(b)</display>The court may, when fault is at issue, close the proceedings and seal the court <ln numlevel="1" lineno="49" slineno="1-29"/>records.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="3-null-16" dnum="3-o" numlevel="1" lineno="50" slineno="1-30" level="1" space="false"><display>(3)</display><subsection ssid="3-null-17" dnum="a-o" level="2" placement="sameline"><display>(a)</display>Except as otherwise provided by this section, the court shall consider the standard <ln numlevel="1" lineno="51" slineno="1-31"/>of living, existing at the time of separation, in determining alimony in accordance <ln numlevel="1" lineno="52" slineno="1-32"/>with this section.</subsection><subsection ssid="3-null-18" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="53" slineno="1-33" level="2"><display>(b)</display>In considering all relevant facts and principles, the court may, in the court's <ln numlevel="1" lineno="54" slineno="1-34"/>discretion, base alimony on the standard of living that existed at the time of trial.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="3-null-19" dnum="4-o" numlevel="1" lineno="55" slineno="1-35" level="1" space="false"><display>(4)</display><subsection ssid="3-null-20" dnum="a-o" level="2" placement="sameline"><display>(a)</display>The court may attempt to equalize the parties' respective standards of living.</subsection><subsection ssid="3-null-21" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="56" slineno="1-36" level="2" space="false"><display>(b)</display><subsection ssid="3-null-22" dnum="i-o" level="3" placement="sameline"><display>(i)</display>If a marriage has been in effect for 10 years or more, and if the payee has <ln numlevel="1" lineno="57" slineno="1-37"/>significantly diminished workplace experience resulting from an agreement <ln numlevel="1" lineno="58" slineno="1-38"/>between the spouses that the payee reduce the payee's workplace experience to <ln numlevel="1" lineno="59" slineno="1-39"/>care for a minor child of the payor, it shall be the rebuttable presumption that the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="60" slineno="1-40"/>court equalize the parties' standard of living.</subsection><subsection ssid="3-null-23" dnum="ii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="61" slineno="1-41" level="3"><display>(ii)</display>The presumption under Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="81-4-502(4)(b)(i)">(4)(b)(i)</xref> can be rebutted by a showing of good <ln numlevel="1" lineno="62" slineno="1-42"/>cause, and the court shall enter specific findings of fact as to the evidentiary basis <ln numlevel="1" lineno="63" slineno="1-43"/>for its determination.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="3-null-24" dnum="c-o" numlevel="1" lineno="64" slineno="1-44" level="2"><display>(c)</display>This Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="81-4-502(4)">(4)</xref> may not be applied to or used as the basis to modify an alimony <ln numlevel="1" lineno="65" slineno="1-45"/>award if the petition for divorce was filed before May 1, 2024.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="3-null-25" dnum="5-o" numlevel="1" lineno="66" slineno="1-46" level="1" space="false"><display>(5)</display><subsection ssid="3-null-26" dnum="a-o" level="2" placement="sameline"><display>(a)</display>If the marriage is short in duration and a minor child has not been conceived or <ln numlevel="1" lineno="67" slineno="1-47"/>born during the marriage, the court may consider the standard of living that existed at <ln numlevel="1" lineno="68" slineno="1-48"/>the time of the marriage.</subsection><subsection ssid="3-null-27" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="69" slineno="1-49" level="2"><display>(b)</display>In determining alimony when a marriage of short duration dissolves and a minor <ln numlevel="1" lineno="70" slineno="1-50"/>child has not been conceived or born during the marriage, the court may consider <ln numlevel="1" lineno="71" slineno="1-51"/>restoring each party to the condition which existed at the time of the marriage.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="3-null-28" dnum="6-o" numlevel="1" lineno="72" slineno="1-52" level="1" space="false"><display>(6)</display><subsection ssid="3-null-29" dnum="a-o" level="2" placement="sameline"><display>(a)</display>When a marriage of long duration dissolves on the threshold of a major change in <ln numlevel="1" lineno="73" slineno="1-53"/>the income of one of the parties due to the collective efforts of both parties, the court <ln numlevel="1" lineno="74" slineno="1-54"/>shall consider the change when dividing the marital property and in determining the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="75" slineno="1-55"/>amount of alimony.</subsection><subsection ssid="3-null-30" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="76" slineno="1-56" level="2"><display>(b)</display>If a party's earning capacity has been greatly enhanced through the efforts of both <ln numlevel="1" lineno="77" slineno="1-57"/>parties during the marriage, the court may make a compensating adjustment in <ln numlevel="1" lineno="78" slineno="1-58"/>dividing the marital property and awarding alimony.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="3-null-31" dnum="7-o" numlevel="1" lineno="79" slineno="1-59" level="1" space="false"><display>(7)</display><subsection ssid="3-null-32" dnum="a-o" level="2" placement="sameline"><display>(a)</display>Except as provided in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="81-4-502(7)(c)">(7)(c)</xref>, the court may not order alimony for a <ln numlevel="1" lineno="80" slineno="1-60"/>period of time longer than the length of the marriage.</subsection><subsection ssid="3-null-33" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="81" slineno="1-61" level="2"><display>(b)</display>If a party is ordered to pay temporary alimony during the pendency of a divorce <ln numlevel="1" lineno="82" slineno="1-62"/>action, the court shall count the period of time that the party pays temporary alimony <ln numlevel="1" lineno="83" slineno="1-63"/>towards the period of time for which the party is ordered to pay alimony.</subsection><subsection ssid="3-null-34" dnum="c-o" numlevel="1" lineno="84" slineno="1-64" level="2"><display>(c)</display>At any time before the termination of alimony, the court may find extenuating <ln numlevel="1" lineno="85" slineno="1-65"/>circumstances or good cause that justify the payment of alimony for a longer period <ln numlevel="1" lineno="86" slineno="1-66"/>of time than the length of the marriage.</subsection></subsection></section></bsec><bsec buid="1" num="81-4-505" type="amend" src="code" uid="C81-4-S505_2026050620260506" sort="81 04 05050020260506" numlevel="1" lineno="87" slineno="2-1" sn="2"><section number="81-4-505" numlevel="1" lineno="88" slineno="2-2" type="amend"><secline lineno="87">Section 2. Section <bold>81-4-505</bold> is amended to read:</secline><catline lineno="88"><bold>81-4-505<parens/>. Termination of alimony.</bold></catline><subsection ssid="1-null-1" dnum="1-o" numlevel="1" lineno="89" slineno="2-3" level="1" placement="noreturn" space="false"><display>(1)</display><subsection ssid="1-null-2" dnum="a-o" level="2" placement="sameline"><display>(a)</display>Except as provided in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="81-4-505(1)(b)">(1)(b)</xref>, or unless a decree of divorce specifically <ln numlevel="1" lineno="90" slineno="2-4"/>provides otherwise, any order of the court that a payor pay alimony to a payee <ln numlevel="1" lineno="91" slineno="2-5"/>automatically terminates upon the remarriage or death of that payee.</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-3" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="92" slineno="2-6" level="2"><display>(b)</display>If the remarriage of the payee is annulled and found to be void ab initio, the payment <ln numlevel="1" lineno="93" slineno="2-7"/>of alimony shall resume if the payor is made a party to the action of annulment and <ln numlevel="1" lineno="94" slineno="2-8"/>the payor's rights are determined.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-4" dnum="2-o" numlevel="1" lineno="95" slineno="2-9" level="1" space="false"><display>(2)</display><subsection ssid="1-15" dnum="_-o:a-i" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="ahaskell" style="1" level="2" placement="sameline"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1039" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="both">(a)</amend></display>If a payor establishes that a payee cohabits with another individual during the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="96" slineno="2-10"/>pendency of the divorce action<amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="10" groupid="9" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="both"> or after the court enters a divorce decree</amend>, the court:<subsection ssid="1-null-5" dnum="a-o:i-i" numlevel="1" lineno="97" slineno="2-11" level="3" tab="1"><display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1040" style="2" owner="o" level="1" deltag="both">(a)</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1041" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">(i)</amend></display>may not order the payor to pay <amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="4" groupid="5" style="2" owner="ahaskell" level="1" deltag="both">temporary </amend><amendoutend style="2"/>alimony<amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="2" groupid="3" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="both">, including temporary <ln numlevel="1" lineno="98" slineno="2-12"/>alimony,</amend> to the payee; and</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-6" dnum="b-o:ii-i" numlevel="1" lineno="99" slineno="2-13" level="3" tab="1"><display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1041" style="2" owner="o" level="1" deltag="both">(b)</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1042" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">(ii)</amend></display>shall terminate any order that the payor pay <amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="5" groupid="6" style="2" owner="ahaskell" level="1" deltag="both">temporary </amend><amendoutend style="2"/>alimony<amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="3" groupid="4" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="both">, including <ln numlevel="1" lineno="100" slineno="2-14"/>temporary alimony,</amend> to the payee<amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="45" groupid="36" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="both">, even if the payee is not cohabiting with the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="101" slineno="2-15"/>individual when the payor files the motion to terminate alimony</amend>.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-17" dnum="_-o:b-i" numlevel="1" lineno="102" slineno="2-16" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="ahaskell" style="1" level="2"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1042" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(b)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="27" groupid="21" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="end">A payor may not seek termination of alimony under Subsection <xref tempid="1066">(2)(a)(ii)</xref> later than <ln numlevel="1" lineno="103" slineno="2-17"/>one year after the day on which the payor knew or should have known that the payee <ln numlevel="1" lineno="104" slineno="2-18"/>has cohabited with another individual.</amend></subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-7" dnum="3-o:_-i" numlevel="1" lineno="105" slineno="2-19" ea="erase" anum="0" owner="ahaskell" style="2" level="1" space="false"><display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1043" style="2" owner="o" level="1" deltag="start">(3)</amend></display><subsection ssid="1-null-8" dnum="a-o:_-i" ea="erase" anum="0" owner="ahaskell" style="2" level="2" placement="sameline"><display><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1044" style="2" owner="o" level="1">(a)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="50" groupid="39" style="2" owner="ahaskell" level="1" deltag="end">Subject to Subsection (3)(b), the court shall terminate an order that a payor pay <ln numlevel="1" lineno="106" slineno="2-20"/>alimony to a payee if the payor establishes that, after the order for alimony is issued, <ln numlevel="1" lineno="107" slineno="2-21"/>the payee cohabits with another individual even if the payee is not cohabiting with <ln numlevel="1" lineno="108" slineno="2-22"/>the individual when the payor files the motion to terminate alimony.</amend><amendoutend style="2"/></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-9" dnum="b-o:_-i" numlevel="1" lineno="109" slineno="2-23" ea="erase" anum="0" owner="ahaskell" style="2" level="2"><display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1045" style="2" owner="o" level="1" deltag="start">(b)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="51" groupid="40" style="2" owner="ahaskell" level="1" deltag="end">A payor may not seek termination of alimony under Subsection (3)(a) later than one <ln numlevel="1" lineno="110" slineno="2-24"/>year after the day on which the payor knew or should have known that the payee has <ln numlevel="1" lineno="111" slineno="2-25"/>cohabited with another individual.</amend><amendoutend style="2"/></subsection></subsection></section></bsec><bsec buid="4" type="uncod" untype="effdate" src="uncod" uid="EF0000" sort="UZEFF" langlock="true" numlevel="1" lineno="112" slineno="3-1" sn="3"><section type="uncod" untype="effdate" display="false" src="uncod"><secline lineno="112">Section 3.  <bold>Effective Date.</bold></secline><sectionText lineno="113"><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1" groupid="1" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="both">This bill takes effect on <effdate uid="code" date="5/6/2026">May 6, 2026</effdate>.</amend></sectionText></section></bsec></bdy><foot><rev><tm>12-30-25 9:54 AM</tm></rev></foot></leg>