You may be well aware of the fact that, amid your divorce proceedings, the New Jersey family court may grant you child support payments; so long as it simultaneously grants you primary custody over your child. But you must also understand the possibility of receiving spousal support payments, otherwise known as alimony. The essential purpose of alimony is to lessen the economic blow that inevitably comes in the aftermath of a divorce; all while making an effort to maintain the lifestyle you once enjoyed during your marriage. Follow along to find out the possible types of alimony you may be granted and how a proficient Morristown alimony lawyer at Graves Andrews, LLC can work to better your chances of receiving this award.
What are the possible types of alimony I can be granted by the New Jersey family court?
Notably, the state of New Jersey does not acknowledge permanent alimony as a possibility in a divorce decree. However, this is not to say that the family court will not grant you a fair and just alimony payment plan that expedites your path toward financial independence post-divorce. Without further ado, the possible types of alimony you may be ordered to include the following:
- Open-durational alimony: this type of alimony does not have a predetermined end date but rather is set to be modified anytime there is a significant change in your or your former spouse’s financial standing. The court may commonly grant this to someone who was married to their former spouse for 20 years or more.
- Limited-duration alimony: this type of alimony has a predetermined end date until the receiving spouse is projected to achieve financial stability. The court may commonly grant this to someone who was only briefly married to their former spouse.
- Rehabilitative alimony: this type of alimony is intended to support a receiving spouse in the short term as they attend schooling or vocational training. The court may commonly grant this to someone who requires additional experience in a field before achieving financial stability.
- Reimbursement alimony: this type of alimony is intended to compensate a receiving spouse who took on domestic duties to support their family during their marriage. The court may commonly grant this to someone who struggles to find meaningful employment needed to achieve financial stability.
What can I do to better my chances of becoming an alimony recipient?
You must understand that simply because your former spouse earns a higher income than you does not automatically guarantee you will be the recipient of alimony payments. Rather, you must make great efforts to prove your case to the New Jersey family court in the following ways:
- You must prove that your age and health affect your ability to earn a livable income independently.
- You must prove that you will incur an increase in living expenses to maintain a lifestyle comparable to what was established during your marriage.
- You must prove that your former spouse can maintain a lifestyle comparable to what was established during your marriage all while making alimony payments.
Please seek the assistance of a talented Morristown family law attorney from Graves Andres, LLC. We look forward to having a conversation with you.
