Coming to terms with “fairness” and alimony in a divorce case

Many people in New Jersey get divorced for a very simple reason: they no longer want to have any type of relationship with their ex-spouse. So, when spousal support – commonly known as “alimony” – is an issue in a divorce case, it can be hard for a spouse to see this type of order as “fair.” But, there are many cases in which a family law judge will determine that alimony is necessary.

Unlike other issues in a divorce case, it can be hard for two soon-to-be ex-spouses to come to an out-of-court agreement on alimony. Why? Well, too often either one of the spouses simply doesn’t want to be ordered to pay any amount of alimony, or the other spouse doesn’t believe that the amount being offered is enough. The result can be contentious courtroom battles over this issue.

There must be a valid reason for a family law judge to determine that alimony is needed in a divorce case. There must be some perceived economic imbalance that will exist once the marriage is terminated. Maybe one spouse stayed at home to raise children while the other one earned an education and advanced in a career. Or, maybe the couple have different retirement plans or separate assets to fall back on, potentially leaving one or the other spouse at a financial disadvantage.

At our law firm, we understand that alimony can be a contentious issue and many people do not think that alimony orders can be fair. We do our best to attempt to make sure our clients understand their legal options. For more information, please visit the alimony overview section of our law firm’s website.