Are trends shifting in divorce court when it comes to alimony?

Alimony is always a hot-button issue in a divorce in New Jersey. It is fairly obvious to see why: when spouses are getting ready to go their separate ways, one soon-to-be ex-spouse is typically not in favor of continuing to make financial payments to the other spouse after the marriage has ended. However, there are a variety of reasons for why alimony might be awarded in a final divorce decree.

But, are trends shifting in divorce court when it comes to who is ordered to pay alimony? Like child custody and child support orders, in general the answer is probably “yes.” Why? Well, American society has changed quite a bit in the last 50 years or so, and that has had an impact on the family unit. In many cases, the days of a husband working while a wife stays at home to take care of children are long gone. These days, it is much more common to see both spouses working outside of the home and, in some cases, the spouses have the same level of education and experience.

These are the types of factors that can come into play with a court’s alimony order. If both spouses are fully capable of maintaining employment and supporting themselves in the aftermath of a divorce, a court may not order alimony at all. And, on the other hand, if it is the wife who is better situated to care for her own financial needs while the husband may have been the one to take care of more household and childcare needs during the marriage, it may actually be the wife who is ordered to pay alimony.

Every divorce is different, which means that different factors will be present that could affect a court’s decisions. New Jersey residents who have questions about their own unique circumstances may need to get more legal information.