Here’s a practical, everything-you-need-to-know legal guide—Philippine context—on stopping (terminating, suspending, or reducing) spousal support. It’s written for parties, counsel, and judges who need a one-stop playbook. (No web sources used; this relies on the Family Code, the Revised Penal Code, and standard Philippine practice.)

1) First principles: what “support” is and when it’s owed

“Support” (Family Code) covers food, dwelling, clothing, medical care, education, and transportation in keeping with the family’s station.
It is owed between spouses by law. The amount is calibrated by need (of recipient) and means (of payor), and can go up or down as circumstances change.
Two tracks where spousal support typically appears:
1. Inside an intact or strained marriage (e.g., separation in fact, protection orders, independent support actions).
2. During marital cases (legal separation, annulment/voidable marriage, declaration of nullity/void marriage) as support pendente lite and sometimes after judgment, depending on the decree and fault.

2) Big map: when can spousal support legally stop?

Below are the core, recurring grounds courts use to terminate, suspend, or reduce spousal support. Some are automatic (by operation of law); others require a court order upon proof of changed circumstances.

A) Death of either spouse – automatic termination

Support is purely personal. The obligation ends upon death of either the payor or recipient. (Accrued arrears remain collectible from the estate; future support does not survive.)

B) Marriage tie severed or redefined by judgment

Declaration of nullity (void marriage): After finality, there is no spousal status; spousal support ceases (children’s support remains). Support pendente lite during the case ends with the judgment.
Annulment (voidable marriage): After finality, the marital tie is severed. As a rule, post-judgment spousal support ends; issues of property and damages depend on good/bad faith. (Children’s support continues.)
Legal separation: Marriage subsists but **spousal support for the offending spouse is generally barred. The innocent spouse may receive support if needed; the guilty spouse (adultery/concubinage or other marital fault) cannot. Practical upshot: If the payee is adjudged the offending spouse in legal separation, that adjudication is a strong ground to stop support.

C) Serious marital fault of recipient (making them “unworthy”)

Outside a formal legal-separation decree, courts routinely deny or stop support where the recipient’s adultery/concubinage or grave marital misconduct is proven. Rationale: the law will not compel a spouse to support one who seriously violates marital obligations. Evidence matters: police reports or convictions aren’t strictly required; competent proof (e.g., admissions, messages, photos, cohabitation evidence) can suffice in civil support proceedings.

D) Remarriage or cohabitation like marriage of recipient

If spouses are already civilly separated/annulled/nullified and a support agreement or court order exists, many orders/agreements treat the recipient’s remarriage or cohabitation as husband/wife with another as a trigger to terminate support. Even absent an explicit clause, courts often treat remarriage/cohabitation as ending need and moral entitlement to spousal support.

E) Reconciliation / resumption of conjugal cohabitation

If spouses reconcile and live together again, a standing separate-support order is typically moot and may be lifted. (Arrears due before reconciliation remain.)

F) Recipient’s lack of need (self-sufficiency)

Support is for necessaries, not enrichment. If the recipient becomes gainfully employed, has sufficient income/assets, or now enjoys family assistance that meets needs, courts reduce or terminate support.

G) Payor’s lack of means (material change)

Support is proportioned to the payor’s resources. If the payor suffers job loss, business collapse, serious illness/disability, or other substantial downturn, the court may reduce support or suspend it—but this does not erase arrears already due. Proof must be concrete (financials, medical proof, closures, payroll records).

H) Expiration/terms of a contract or court-approved settlement

Where support stems from a written settlement (e.g., in a legal separation/annulment case), it ends per the end date/condition (e.g., for 24 months; until employment; until remarriage). Violating conditions (e.g., concealment of income) can justify termination or claw-back.

I) Recipient’s criminal acts toward payor or family

Grave offenses (e.g., serious physical injuries, grave threats, estafa against the payor) can, on equitable grounds and consistent with fault principles, be invoked to stop support. Courts weigh safety and equity alongside strict need/means analysis.

3) What does not usually stop support (standing alone)

Mere unpaid credit-card or consumer debts of the recipient.
Minor lifestyle disagreements or ordinary marital quarrels.
Payor’s voluntary poverty (e.g., quitting a well-paid job without cause to evade support).
New obligations voluntarily assumed by the payor (e.g., loans) do not automatically override a court-ordered support duty.

4) Procedure: how to legally stop, suspend, or reduce support

If no case is pending:

File an independent petition/complaint for support (to establish) or for termination/adjustment of support (if an informal arrangement exists but you want it judicially ended). Venue is where either spouse resides. Some LGUs or barangays attempt mediation, but court orders are what bind banks/employers.

If a case is pending (legal separation, annulment, nullity, VAWC, or support case):

File a Motion to Terminate/Suspend/Reduce Support, attaching evidence of the ground (see §6).
For support pendente lite, courts can lift or modify it anytime upon proof of changed circumstances or fault.

Enforcement and stays:

Arrears (past-due amounts) are generally collectible even if future support is ended.
Wage garnishments/withholding stop only when the court amends/vacates the order—secure a written order before instructing employers.

5) Standards the court applies

Need–Means Test: recipient’s actual necessities vs. payor’s real capacity.
Proportionality: support must be reasonable and commensurate to the family’s station.
Material Change: termination or reduction requires a material, not trivial, change.
Fault/Equity: egregious misconduct (adultery/concubinage, serious abuse) can bar or end support, especially where a decree or credible proof exists.

6) Evidence that convinces judges (checklist)

For stopping due to lack of need / self-sufficiency

Employment contract/pay slips, bank statements, business permits, tax returns; proof of new assets/inheritance; evidence of support from a new partner.

For stopping due to lack of means

Termination letters, closure notices, income tax returns showing loss, audited FS, medical certificates and bills, disability findings.

For stopping due to fault (adultery/concubinage or grave misconduct)

Messages/admissions, photos/geotags, lease/shared utility records, birth certificates of a child with another partner, sworn statements of witnesses; final legal separation decree naming the offending spouse (if applicable).

For termination due to remarriage/cohabitation

PSA marriage certificate; proof of cohabitation (shared address, child recognition, joint accounts, public posts, barangay certifications).

For decree-based grounds (annulment/nullity/legal separation)

Final judgment and entry of judgment; settlement terms showing termination conditions.

7) Drafting tips (motions/pleadings)

Lead with the ground (e.g., “Recipient has secured full-time employment and now earns ₱___ monthly; expenses attached; support no longer necessary”).
Attach a cash-flow table (need vs. income) and documentary exhibits.
If alleging fault, state specific acts, dates, places, and attach corroboration; avoid conclusory labels.
Prayer should be tiered: (1) terminate; or in the alternative (2) reduce to ₱___; (3) clarify that arrears up to the hearing date remain collectible/waivable as the court may direct.
Ask for prospective effect from the filing date (or date of material change), and for employer notice to stop wage deductions.

8) Contractual support vs. legal support

Court-ordered support follows Family Code standards and can be modified anytime for material change.
Contractual support (e.g., settlement approved by the court) is governed by its text; termination on remarriage/cohabitation or at a fixed term is common. A court can still intervene if terms are unconscionable or contrary to law/morals (e.g., absolute waiver of future child support—void).

9) Special contexts

VAWC (R.A. 9262): Protection orders can include support. If circumstances change (safety restored, income shifts, deceit discovered), seek modification. Termination must never compromise victim safety; courts will balance.
OFW/expat payors: Use employer directives and bank standing orders tied to the court’s amended order; consider consular notarization for affidavits.
Interim support in nullity/annulment: Often granted pendente lite then ceases upon judgment severing the tie (children’s support continues).

10) What happens to arrears and overpayments

Arrears: Generally survive termination and can be executed unless the court expressly condones or parties settle.
Overpayments: Courts may allow credit against future obligations (e.g., children’s support) or order refund if equities demand.

11) Practical playbooks

A) For a payor who wants to stop support

Collect proof of your ground (death, decree, fault, cohabitation, loss of means, recipient’s income).
File a motion (or independent petition) citing the Family Code need–means basis and the specific ground.
Serve the other spouse; set for hearing.
Obtain a written order and serve it on the employer/bank to halt deductions.

B) For a recipient facing termination

Audit needs (budget with receipts) and show continuing need.
Disprove the alleged ground (e.g., no cohabitation; income is temporary/insufficient; payor’s “loss” is voluntary or not material).
Consider reduction as fallback rather than outright termination.

12) Quick FAQ

Q: Can I just stop paying once my ex remarries? Not unilaterally. File to terminate/modify. Until the court order is changed, you risk contempt or execution for non-payment.

Q: If my business crashed, do arrears vanish? No. Courts may reduce/suspend prospectively, but past due amounts are usually still owed unless the court says otherwise.

Q: Does adultery automatically end support? When proven (or adjudged in legal separation), it’s a strong ground to deny/stop support. But you still need a court order modifying the existing support order.

Q: After annulment or nullity, is spousal support ever continued? As a rule, no—the spousal bond is gone. Children’s support remains, and property/damages issues are addressed separately. Rare, equity-based exceptions are unusual and fact-specific.

Q: Can we privately agree to stop? Yes, but to protect both sides (and employers), submit a joint motion and get the court to issue an order reflecting the new terms.

One-page checklist of recognized grounds to stop spousal support

Death of either spouse (automatic).
Final judgment of nullity or annulment (spousal support ends).
Legal separation where payee is the offending spouse (barred).
Adultery/concubinage or grave marital misconduct of payee (proven).
Remarriage/cohabitation of payee (factually shown; often contractual trigger).
Reconciliation/resumed cohabitation (moots separate support).
Recipient self-sufficiency (employment/assets make support unnecessary).
Payor loss of means (material and proven) justifying suspension/reduction.
Expiry/condition met under a court-approved settlement.
Serious crimes by recipient against payor/family (equitable bar).

If you share your exact situation (what order/settlement you have, amounts, dates, employment changes, and any fault/cohabitation evidence), I can draft a motion to terminate or reduce support, plus an evidence appendix tailored to your case.