Understanding Alimony in New Jersey—An Introduction

A spouse in New Jersey (male or female) still has a right to seek spousal support (alimony) during and after a divorce. In the Garden State, spousal support typically is determined on a case-by-case basis, with the court looking at the following factors:

• How long the parties have been married
• The age and physical health of the parties at the time of the divorce
• The needs of the receiving party and ability of the other party to pay
• The extent to which each spouse is actively involved with child-rearing
• The standard of living to which the parties were accustomed during the marriage
• The respective earning capacities of both parties, as well as educational levels, job training, and skills that may affect earning capacity
• The length of time the recipient has been out of the job market
• The length of time it would take the recipient to acquire education or training to become self-supporting
• How property was allocated in the divorce decree
• Ownership by either party of income-producing assets
• Any other factors the court deems relevant

The Different Types of Alimony

There are five different types of spousal support in New Jersey:

• Alimony pendent lite—This is an award that is only payable while a divorce is in process—essentially a temporary form of spousal support.
• Limited duration alimony—In many cases, the court will award alimony for a specified time to allow the receiving spouse time to become self-supporting – the term generally cannot exceed the length of the marriage.
• Rehabilitative alimony—Similar to limited duration alimony, this award typically lasts until the receiving spouse completes job training or other requirements to become self-sufficient.
• Reimbursement alimony—This award represents reimbursement for sacrifices one spouse made to benefit the other, such as working to support the family while the other spouse obtained an advanced degree.
• Open duration alimony—This is an award without an identified termination date. It may be for the rest of the person’s life, or it may be ended by the court at its discretion.

Modification of Alimony

Once alimony is awarded, it can be subsequently terminated or reduced if a substantial change in circumstances is proven, e.g., remarriage, cohabitation, loss of job, retirement, severe health problems, or significant change in income of either party.

Contact an Experienced New Jersey Family Law Attorney

At the law office of David M. Lipshutz, we won’t take your case unless we know we can help.For aprivate meeting, contact our office online or call us at 856-627-1990. We are available to meet with you Monday through Friday, between 9 AM and 5 PM.