Senate Bill No. 552 Summary

• Adds cohabitation as grounds for terminating alimony and maintenance payments, in addition to the existing grounds of remarriage and death, effective upon court finding.

• Defines "cohabitation" as two adults dwelling together continuously and habitually in a romantic relationship, evidenced by voluntary mutual assumption of marital rights and duties (not necessarily dependent on sexual relations).

• Establishes that cohabitation is presumed to occur after 90 or more consecutive days of romantic cohabitation, but courts may find cohabitation exists for periods under 90 days if the parties periodically separated to circumvent the requirement.

• Specifies that termination of alimony or maintenance due to cohabitation does not relieve the obligated party from child support obligations.

• Renumbers subsections in section 452.370 to accommodate the new cohabitation termination provision and clarifies that child support modifications still require proof of substantial and continuing changes in circumstances.