Is Alimony Permanent in New Jersey?
Many types of alimony agreements can be made after a divorce, but it is actually quite uncommon for a judge to make alimony permanent in New Jersey. It is a possibility though, and our Morristown alimony attorneys would be happy to tell you more about how these agreements work and what could affect the final judgment.
What Does a Court Consider When Calculating Alimony?
There are many factors that a judge can look at when they are figuring out an alimony arrangement for you and your former spouse. Considerations can include:
- How long the marriage lasted
- The income and assets of both parties
- The age and health of both parties
- Educational levels and earning capacities of both spouses
- How the parental responsibilities are split
- The financial and non-financial contributions of both spouses to the marriage
- The standard of living established during the marriage
- How long the supported spouse has been out of the job market
- Whether the supported spouse will need time to train for jobs and become self-sufficient
There are a lot of things for a judge to think about, but when it comes to making alimony permanent there may be one element that has an outsized effect on what kind of settlement can be made.
When Will the Court Make Alimony Permanent?
We are talking about the length of the marriage. Someone rarely gets awarded permanent alimony unless their marriage has lasted 20 or more years. Otherwise, a judge usually tries to keep alimony arrangements shorter than the couple’s marriage. So if you were married for five years, it is unlikely that your alimony agreement will remain in place for longer than five years.
The court can make alimony permanent after a long marriage ends because the spouse collecting support is probably older and they may have spent a significant amount of time away from the workforce. It can be difficult for them to jump back into the working world and support themselves, so the judge determines that they will need spousal support until something major changes.
Do I Need a Lawyer During Alimony Negotiations?
Having a lawyer on your side during alimony negotiations can be helpful whether you’re going to end being up the paying spouse or the supported one. An attorney can help you build your case and help you secure a fair alimony arrangement. A lawyer can also help you out if you think that there should be an adjustment to your alimony agreement later, like if someone’s economic situation changes or if your former spouse begins to cohabitate with another partner.
Contact Our Attorneys Today
If you are going through a divorce, it helps to have someone who can advocate for you and your interests. That is why you should contact Lazor Rantas, PC and schedule a consultation with our team. We would be happy to tell you more about what an experienced family lawyer can do for you.
