Arons & Solomon Divorce Lawyers | November 9, 2022 | Spousal Support
New Jersey is a state that recognizes the importance of alimony and has several different types of alimony available depending on the length of the marriage. As a result, there are different categories of alimony available to people getting a divorce in New Jersey.
Be aware, however, that a crucial step a court will take on alimony is to evaluate one spouse’s need for alimony and the other spouse’s ability to pay. A court won’t mandate one spouse to pay alimony if they can’t reasonably afford to do so.
Types of New Jersey Alimony
There are many different kinds of alimony that can be awarded in a divorce in New Jersey, depending on the length of the marriage and other factors. The most common types of alimony are temporary, rehabilitative, and permanent.
Temporary alimony is awarded to help one spouse maintain their standard of living during the divorce proceedings. This type of alimony is typically granted for situations where one spouse has a significantly higher income than the other.
Rehabilitative alimony is designed to help support a spouse as they pursue education or training in order to achieve financial independence. This type of alimony is usually granted for shorter marriages or situations where one spouse has been out of the workforce for a while and needs time to get back on their feet.
Permanent alimony is awarded to spouses who have been married for a long time or who do not have the means to become financially independent. This type of alimony may last until death or remarriage, or it could be modified over time as circumstances change.
The Length of Your Marriage
The length of your marriage matters. If you’re seeking permanent alimony, for example, but your marriage only lasted two years, you’ll have to present an exceptionally strong case to the judge for why you should receive permanent alimony for such a short marriage. Generally, shorter marriages may qualify for rehabilitative or temporary alimony, while longer marriages, those over ten years, may qualify for permanent alimony.
This is because the length of a marriage is often seen as an indicator of how much financial support one spouse may need after divorce. For example, if a couple has been married for many years and one spouse has been primarily responsible for caring for the family or maintaining the household, that spouse may require more financial support after a divorce than someone who was less involved in running the home or raising children.
Likewise, if one spouse has contributed significantly to their career during the marriage, this may also impact their eligibility for certain types of alimony. For instance, someone who spent many years out of the workforce to care for children or support their spouse’s career may have fewer earnings and savings than someone who worked continuously throughout the marriage. In these cases, longer marriages would generally be more likely to result in permanent alimony.
Contact the Bergen County Family and Divorce Law Firm of Arons & Solomon Divorce Lawyers for more help
Contact the experienced family attorneys at Arons & Solomon Divorce Lawyers today for legal assistance. Visit our law office in Bergen County or give us a call at (201) 487-1199 to schedule a free consultation with our team.
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