South Jersey Alimony Lawyers

Pursuing Fair Spousal Support for Local Clients

The end of a marriage marks the beginning of a new financial reality for both parties. In New Jersey, the question of alimony, or spousal support, is often central to this transition, as it is intended to help a dependent spouse move toward financial self-sufficiency. Whether you anticipate paying or receiving support, the outcome will significantly shape your future.

At Rigden Lieberman Mignogna, P.A., we are committed to helping clients throughout Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Mercer, Atlantic, Cumberland, Salem, and Cape May counties navigate these complexities with clarity and foresight. We advocate for fair and sustainable spousal support arrangements that provide a stable foundation for the next chapter of your life. 

We are prepared to help you navigate your options and protect your financial future. Call (609) 772-4218 to schedule a consultation with a South Jersey alimony lawyer today.

Understanding Alimony in New Jersey

Alimony is the financial support one spouse provides to the other following a divorce. Its purpose is to help a dependent spouse maintain a lifestyle reasonably comparable to the one enjoyed during marriage, particularly when a disparity exists in the parties' incomes.

While some couples may reach an agreement on their own, the terms become legally binding once formalized by the court. 

The court considers numerous statutory factors when determining the amount and duration of support and recognizes four distinct types of alimony:

• Limited duration alimony. Generally awarded in marriages that lasted less than 20 years. The length of payments cannot exceed the length of the marriage, except in exceptional circumstances.
• Open durational alimony. May be awarded in marriages of 20 years or more and does not have a predetermined end date.
• Rehabilitative alimony. A short-term form of support awarded to help a spouse obtain the education or job training needed to become financially independent. This requires a well-defined plan.
• Reimbursement alimony. Awarded when one spouse supported the other through an advanced education with the shared expectation of benefiting from the future income that education would generate.

How New Jersey Courts Determine Alimony

There is no fixed formula for calculating alimony. Instead, family courts conduct a case-by-case analysis based on 14 statutory factors. 

The 14 statutory factors are:

•   The actual need and ability of the parties to pay
• The duration of the marriage or civil union
• The age, physical and emotional health of the parties
• The standard of living established in the marriage or civil union and the likelihood that each party can maintain a reasonably comparable standard of living, with neither party having a greater entitlement to that standard of living than the other
• The earning capacities, educational levels, vocational skills, and employability of the parties
• The length of absence from the job market of the party seeking maintenance
• The parental responsibilities for the children
• The time and expense necessary to acquire sufficient education or training to enable the party seeking maintenance to find appropriate employment, the availability of the training and employment, and the opportunity for future acquisitions of capital assets and income
• The history of the financial or non-financial contributions to the marriage or civil union by each party including contributions to the care and education of the children and interruption of personal careers or educational opportunities
• The equitable distribution of property ordered and any payouts on equitable distribution, directly or indirectly, out of current income, to the extent this consideration is reasonable, just and fair
• The income available to either party through investment of any assets held by that party
• The tax treatment and consequences to both parties of any alimony award, including the designation of all or a portion of the payment as a non-taxable payment
• The nature, amount, and length of pendente lite support paid, if any
• Any other factors which the court may deem relevant

An attorney can help you understand how these factors apply to your situation, whether you are seeking support or may be required to pay it.