I am divorced and have to pay my ex-husband a compensatory allowance in the form of an annuity. Having accumulated debts, including rent arrears, can I ask for the amount of this allowance to be reduced?

Yes. You may ask the judge (the family court judge) to revise or even terminate it, if you can demonstrate a “significant change in the resources or needs of either party” (French Civil Code, Art. 276-3).