What constitutes a 'material change' for spousal support?

A 'material change' in the context of spousal support refers to a significant alteration in circumstances that could affect the financial needs or abilities of one or both parties involved. The key aspect of this definition is that the changes must be substantial enough that, had they been known at the time the original support order was made, they would likely have influenced the outcome of that order.

When considering option C, it captures this principle perfectly by stating that if the changes would likely have led to a different spousal support order had they been known earlier, they are indeed material. This aligns with judicial interpretations of material change, as courts often assess whether the new circumstances warrant a re-evaluation of the support agreement to ensure fairness and appropriateness based on current realities.

The other options provide less relevant criteria for what constitutes a material change. For instance, anticipated changes (as mentioned in the first option) do not qualify as material changes since they were already accounted for during the establishment of the original support. Changes in marital status or new laws (addressed in the second and fourth options, respectively) may impact spousal support but do not inherently signify that a material change has occurred unless they correspond with specific circumstances that would impact the financial dynamics significantly.