What are the four types of alimony in New Jersey?

When a couple in New Jersey gets divorced, one of the factors that may come into play is alimony. Alimony is a form of financial support that the court may order one spouse to pay the other for a certain period of time after they become divorced. However, not all divorces are eligible to receive alimony. New Jersey offers four different options for alimony depending on the situation. The laws regarding spousal support were changed in recent years, eliminating the option for permanent alimony.

Now that permanent alimony is no longer an option, those who would once be considered eligible for that may be ordered open durational alimony. This is typically issued in situations where the couple was married for over 20 years and the alimony payments do not have a pre-determined end date. It will only end based on an extreme change in circumstance, which the court will have to approve. For marriages that lasted less than 20 years, the court may order limited duration alimony. This is generally issued based on the financial need of one spouse until they can become fiscally independent without these alimony payments.

Rehabilitative alimony is granted on a generally short-term basis and is usually paid to a spouse so they can obtain a degree that would allow them to increase their earning capacity in the future and ultimately become financially independent. The final form of alimony is known as reimbursement alimony. It is granted in situations where one spouse financially supported the other while they obtained higher education and is used to pay them back.

If you have questions about alimony based on your particular situation, contact an experienced divorce attorney who can provide you with assistance.

The law firm of Mattleman, Weinroth & Miller, P.C., is composed of experienced attorneys throughout the state of New Jersey. Please contact the office for a free initial consultation and get any questions answered.