If you receive Alimony, inflation can feel like a silent roommate who keeps eating your groceries and raising the rent. The payment stays the same, but the cost of living does not. So what can you do under Washington law to keep support realistic over time?
This article is general information, not legal advice. Every case is different, and small wording choices can change outcomes.
Why inflation hits support payments so hard
Inflation is basically “your dollar doesn’t bench-press like it used to.” A common way economists track it is the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures average price changes over time for a basket of goods and services.
So if your support amount is fixed at (say) $2,500 per month, it can buy less each year when prices rise. That pinch shows up fast in real life:
- Groceries
- Rent or mortgage payments
- Child-related expenses (even when child support is separate)
- Transportation, insurance, and health care
The good news: Washington spousal support (called “maintenance” in the statute) is flexible enough that you can plan for inflation before an order is entered, and sometimes adjust after.
What Washington courts consider when setting maintenance
Washington courts can award maintenance in “amounts and for such periods of time” the court finds just, after weighing several factors—like each spouse’s financial resources, the standard of living during the marriage, the length of the marriage, and the paying spouse’s ability to meet their own needs while paying.
That matters for inflation because the court is looking at real-world budgets, not theoretical ones. If you build a clear, well-supported picture of monthly expenses (and why they are likely to rise), you are giving the court better tools to craft an order that holds up over time.
Option 1: Build in a cost-of-living adjustment
A cost-of-living adjustment (often called a “COLA”) is a clause that increases (or occasionally decreases) payments based on an index such as the CPI.
Common COLA design choices (in plain English)
1) Which CPI index are you using?
CPI-U is commonly used for consumer inflation. There are also regional indexes. (The choice should match what you’re trying to reflect.)
2) When do adjustments happen?
Many agreements use an annual adjustment on a set date (for example, every January 1).
3) What’s the formula?
A typical approach is: payment changes by the same percentage as the CPI change between two periods.
4) Is there a cap or floor?
- A cap limits how big the increase can be in one year.
- A floor guarantees a minimum adjustment even if inflation is small (or even if the index dips).
These details can keep a COLA clause from becoming a yearly argument—or a surprise.
“But will a COLA clause hold up in Washington?”
Context matters, but Washington courts have recognized that parties can agree to an escalation clause in a settlement agreement. That does not mean every COLA clause is automatically a good idea. It means careful drafting is worth it—especially when the goal is stability, not a fight every 12 months.
Option 2: Use review dates instead of an automatic increase
Some people want a “check-in” without an automatic raise. A review-date clause can do that.
A review approach might include:
- A set calendar date to exchange updated income and expense info
- A commitment to try mediation before filing anything in court
- A short list of what counts as a meaningful change (job loss, disability, major medical costs, etc.)
This can feel more flexible than CPI tracking, and it can reduce the “spreadsheet wars.”
Option 3: Seek a modification when life (or prices) truly change
Sometimes inflation isn’t the only issue. Maybe housing costs jump, health expenses rise, or income changes in a lasting way.
Washington law allows maintenance provisions to be modified in many cases, but usually only for future payments and generally only with a “substantial change of circumstances.”
Two practical takeaways:
- Courts usually won’t rewrite the past. Modifications generally apply to installments after the petition/motion is filed.
- Not every increase in expenses qualifies. It needs to be significant enough to meet the legal standard, and the facts matter.
If you think a modification may be needed, it helps to act sooner rather than later, because timing can affect what relief is possible.
A fun reality check: inflation clauses are like seatbelts
Nobody gets in the car excited to talk about seatbelts. Still, when things get bumpy, you’re glad they’re there.
A well-written adjustment plan can:
- reduce repeat conflict
- keep support aligned with real needs
- lower the odds that someone ends up back in court
And if you’re the paying spouse, a structured approach can also help you avoid sudden, unpredictable demands.
Practical steps that help in real cases
Track the “real” monthly budget
Use actual numbers, not guesses. Keep it simple:
- housing
- food
- transportation
- insurance
- health care
- minimum debt payments
Keep proof without turning your home into a filing cabinet
A few statements and a clean spreadsheet can go a long way. If the support issue ends up in mediation or court, clarity helps.
Treat the agreement language like it matters (because it does)
“CPI-U” versus “CPI-W.”
“Annual adjustment” versus “may adjust.”
“Shall” versus “should.”
Small words can carry big weight.
Work with Story Law in Bellevue, WA
If you’re setting support or reviewing an existing order, a Washington family law lawyer can help you plan for inflation and the cost of living in a way that fits your situation and your goals. Story Law supports clients through negotiation, mediation, and litigation when needed.
If you want help building an inflation plan into a support agreement—or figuring out whether a change may justify a modification—contact Story Law to talk through your options.
