Endless Alimony: Will Death Finally Terminate the Payments?

A woman in California is concerned about whether her husband's ex-wife will still be entitled to receive spousal support from his estate after his death. While the general rule is that spousal support ends with the supporting spouse's death, there may be exceptions depending on the divorce decree. It is advised to review the divorce decree with a lawyer to determine if there is any language that would cause the obligation to continue after the ex-spouse's death. Additionally, spousal support in California is often based on the length of the marriage, and modifications can only be made if there is a substantial change in circumstances.