Alimony Attorneys in West New York, NJ
Oftentimes, when couples get divorced, one of the spouses is financially dependent on the other. This means that either one spouse does not formally receive an income, or the other spouse simply generates more income on a yearly basis than the other. That being said, if you are a financially dependent spouse in the state of New Jersey, there is a very good chance you are now seeking alimony payments, otherwise known as spousal support. Unfortunately, alimony is frequently one of the most highly-contested divorce-related issues, which is why if you require alimony payments, you must retain the services of an experienced Hudson County divorce attorney as soon as you can. Contact Greenberg & Walden, LLC to learn more about how we can help you.
How New Jersey Law Determines Alimony
In years past, spouses could, in many cases, receive permanent alimony payments. This is no longer the case. Now that New Jersey has revised its laws concerning alimony, there are four primary types of alimony that financially dependent spouses may receive. They are as follows:
- Open Durational Alimony: Essentially, if you are someone who has been married to your spouse for over 20 years and you are financially dependent, you may be awarded what is known as open durational alimony. Open durational alimony is the option that replaced permanent alimony. If you receive open durational alimony, you will receive financial support for an indeterminate period of time. This alimony will only be terminated if you either become financially independent or you otherwise no longer require alimony payments in the eyes of New Jersey law.
- Limited Duration Alimony: Spouses that are married for less than 20 years will generally be awarded limited duration alimony, which is essentially when a spouse receives alimony payments for a predetermined amount of time. The amount and duration of this type of alimony are generally decided by a judge.
- Reimbursement Alimony: When one spouse decides they wish to either go back to school or receive training for a new job and the other spouse pays the cost of that spouse’s tuition, then the couple divorced soon thereafter, the spouse who supported the other spouse financially may receive reimbursement alimony to pay back that cost.
- Rehabilitative Alimony: If you deferred your career goals or left the workforce to support your spouse prior to a divorce, you may be awarded what is known as rehabilitative alimony, which will support you financially while you pursue the education or retraining you need to pick up where you left off.
Determining Alimony in New Jersey
New Jersey courts will consider a wide array of factors when determining the amount and duration of the alimony owed after a divorce. Some of the most common factors are as follows:
- How long the couple has been married
- Each party’s earning capacity
- The dependent spouse’s needs
- The health of each party
- Whether the spouses have children together
- The age of each party
- The tax consequences that any alimony award may have
- Whether there has already been temporary support paid
- The standard of living that was established in the marriage
- How much income both spouses earn on a yearly basis
Contact Our Hudson County Alimony Attorneys
If you are getting divorced and are concerned about whether you will have the funds needed to stay afloat and retain your standard of living, Greenberg & Walden, LLC is here to assist you. Contact our firm today to learn more about how we can work to ensure you receive the alimony payments you deserve and need. We are always here to help.
