When a marriage ends, the financial implications for both parties may be life changing. In order to provide as much stability as possible, New Jersey laws have been enacted regarding important factors such as alimony and child support. As times change and the economy becomes unstable, it may be necessary to revise family law to account for lower salaries and many unemployed citizens.
Under current New Jersey law, once a couple has been married for ten years or more, one spouse is required to pay alimony for life to the other spouse. The amount of the alimony is set at the time of the divorce, and the legislation that has been proposed will limit the amount of the alimony, and for how long the money must be paid.
The changes to current law are said to be drastic, and the legislation does not have the support of the New Jersey Bar Association. The law may have been proposed in order to provide help for spouses that pay alimony who have either lost their jobs, or are unable to work due to medical conditions, but are still required to pay alimony that is based on the salary they made at the time of the divorce.
Alimony is designed to protect one spouse from being left without financial stability after they have given up their own job or education to support the other partner. New laws regarding alimony may be difficult to decipher and understand, and any individual facing a divorce may benefit from hiring an attorney to help them wade through any changes before the divorce is final.
