When filing for divorce or going through a divorce, you may have heard of the term alimony. If you’re a Camden County, New Jersey resident and wondering if you or your spouse may be required to pay alimony, an alimony lawyer with Rigden, Lieberman & Mignogna, P.A. may be able to help.
Learn more about alimony and why an alimony lawyer can be helpful when filing for divorce below.
What is Alimony?
Alimony is the financial support one partner provides to another in the event of divorce or separation. It is a legal obligation sometimes required by the court. Alimony is designed to help the dependent spouse maintain a reasonable approximation of the marital lifestyle.
Alimony can be agreed upon between parties without court involvement, although it still carries the legal obligation as if the court determined it.
How long alimony lasts depends on the type of alimony one party is required to pay and the circumstances of the marriage and divorce. Alimony payments can be paid either directly to the payee, or garnished from a paycheck.
Types of Alimony
The courts of New Jersey recognize four types of alimony:
Limited Duration Alimony—This type of alimony can be awarded when the marriage lasts less than 20 years and generally cannot extend past the number of years the party was married.
Open Durational Alimony—Alimony can be awarded in marriages that last over 20 years. This type of alimony continues until there is a change in circumstances, such as the receiver’s remarriage or the payor’s retirement.
Rehabilitative Alimony—Alimony awarded for a set period while the supported party looks for a job or gets the education necessary to find a job.
Reimbursement Alimony—Alimony awarded where one party repays another for supporting them through advanced education, assuming that the party would benefit from their partner’s increased earning capacity.
How an Alimony Lawyer Can Help
An alimony lawyer can help you navigate the ins and outs of alimony, including if you are eligible and what factors may contribute to determining an alimony payment. Your attorney is there to represent you during divorce proceedings and try to obtain a favorable outcome for you.
A lawyer can also help you modify your alimony agreement if circumstances in your life have changed, including retirement or an economic change in your life since the alimony agreement was created.
At Rigden, Lieberman & Mignogna, P.A., Alexandra Rigden, Ronald Lieberman, and Melissa Mignogna offer compassion and support throughout the alimony and divorce process. They have experience working in many areas of family law and in courts across New Jersey.
If you’re going through a divorce in Camden County, NJ, Rigden, Lieberman & Mignogna, P.A., can help you navigate alimony and the divorce process. Contact us to schedule a consultation today.
