New Jersey Spousal Support

Posted on by Accel Admin

Often as a couple goes through a divorce in New Jersey, they clash over the possibility of spousal support. While one spouse may feel as though he or she is entitled to alimony, another term for spousal support, the other may feel as though they should not have to continue supporting their former spouse once the marriage is over. In a marriage, couples often fill different roles and have different individual financial means. Most of the time during a marriage, this doesn’t matter very much. However, a lot of resentment may arise upon a divorce because one spouse may feel as though they have put their career on hold to support the other spouse in their career and stay home for the good of the family. Of course in this situation, one spouse is the primary source of income and it can lead the dependent spouse to worry about how they will support themselves after the divorce.

In a lot of cases, the court may award pendente lite support, which is a temporary alimony obligation that takes place while the case is pending. This typically covers the cost of daily expenses and possibly even attorney fees.

There are four types of alimony in New Jersey. In order to determine which form best suits the couple, the court will consider various factors, including:

  • The length of the marriage
  • The needs of the dependent party
  • The age and health of both spouses
  • The standard of living established during the marriage
  • The earning capacity of both individuals
  • The custodial responsibilities for the children
  • The dependent party’s length of absence from the workplace
  • The education needed to help the dependent party become independent
  • The financial and nonfinancial contribution to the marriage
  • The property distribution decision

If you have questions about spousal support in New Jersey, contact our firm today.

For strong legal representation from an experienced personal injury, bankruptcy, workers’ compensation, criminal defense, or family law attorney, contact Underwood & Micklin and we would be happy to schedule a consultation to discuss your matter.