Alimony is one of the most contested issues in a divorce. If you are unsure about whether or not your alimony agreement is permanent, continue reading and reach out to our skilled Bergen County alimony attorney today. Our legal team is here to help.
Is permanent alimony awarded in New Jersey?
In New Jersey, alimony is not intended to be permanent. Because of this, there are four primary types of alimony that can be granted to individuals in New Jersey. However, keep in mind that the amount of alimony you receive heavily depends on the length of your marriage. The different kinds of alimony include the following:
- Open durational alimony: This kind of alimony is predominantly awarded to spouses who have been married for over 20 years. Even though open durational alimony is not permanent, it is given to dependent spouses for an indeterminate amount of time. But, if that spouse remarries, gets a higher-paying job, or can otherwise support him or herself, he or she will most likely no longer be eligible to receive these alimony payments.
- Limited duration alimony: This type of alimony is granted to financially dependent spouses who have been married for less than 20 years. Keep in mind that this is only awarded for a predetermined period of time.
- Reimbursement alimony: If your spouse quit working to seek additional education before a divorce and you supported the both of you, you may fit into the reimbursement alimony category.
- Rehabilitative alimony: Spouses who pause their career goals to benefit the career of their spouse before a divorce can be deemed eligible for rehabilitative alimony. This kind of alimony typically goes towards any reeducation or retraining that may be required so they can pick up where they left off.
What do New Jersey courts consider when making alimony determinations?
As you can see, the duration of your marriage will play a large role in the court’s alimony determinations. However, it is important to understand that the courts will look at several other factors, including the following:
- Your child custody/support agreement
- You and your spouse’s age
- You and your spouse’s health
- You and your spouse’s earning potential
- You and your spouse’s yearly income
- Any other factor the court deems relevant
If you have further questions about alimony in New Jersey, do not hesitate to reach out to our skilled Bergen County family law attorney.
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Here at McNerney & McAuliffe, we understand how confusing certain legal matters can be, which is why we are here to provide clients from all walks of life with the experienced, compassionate legal guidance they need. If you require the legal assistance of an attorney to help you through a criminal law matter, personal injury matter, family law matter, or otherwise, you can turn to us. Contact McNerney & McAuliffe today to learn more about what we can do for you.
