There are a number of different types of alimony that can be awarded by a court in New Jersey. To learn whether or not any of these arrangements can be made permanent, continue reading and reach out to our skilled Monmouth County divorce attorneys.
Is permanent alimony granted in New Jersey?
Alimony is not intended to be permanent in the state of New Jersey, therefore, it is not offered by courts. Instead, there are four primary types of alimony that can be awarded to people in New Jersey. It is important to recognize that the amount of alimony you receive heavily relies on the length of your marriage. The different kinds of alimony include:
- Open durational alimony: This type of alimony is primarily granted to partners who have been married for over 20 years. Despite open durational alimony not being permanent, it is provided to dependent spouses for an indeterminate period of time. However, 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 kind of alimony is awarded 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 pursue further education before a divorce and you supported the both of you, you may fit into the reimbursement alimony category.
- Rehabilitative alimony: Partners who pause their career goals to benefit the career of their spouse before a divorce can be considered suitable for rehabilitative alimony. This kind of alimony generally goes towards any reeducation or retraining that may be needed so they can pick up where they left off.
What do New Jersey courts consider when making alimony determinations?
Based on the above-mentioned types of alimony, it is clear that the duration of your marriage will have a big part in the court’s alimony determinations. But, it is critical to understand that courts will look at a number of other factors, including:
- 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 firm today.
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If you require strong legal representation for matters of divorce and family law in Rumson, Monmouth County, or anywhere in New Jersey, contact The Law Offices of Paone, Zaleski & Murphy to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced attorneys today.