Photo of Professionals at Weinberg, Kaplan & Smith, P.A.
Photo of Professionals at Weinberg, Kaplan & Smith, P.A.
  1. Home
  2.  » 
  3. Alimony
  4.  » Reasons why the length of alimony may be adjusted

Reasons why the length of alimony may be adjusted

by | Jul 18, 2019 | Alimony

Regardless of which side of the fence you stand on during an alimony dispute, there can be a lot at stake. For an individual who is seeking spousal support, the outcome of these matters can shape his or her standard of living for years, perhaps even decades to come. For an individual who is being asked to pay alimony, the resolution of such a dispute can dictate how big of a financial hit he or she will take, which can have a ripple effect on his or her monetary well-being.

Although the law dictates that marriages that last less than 20 years can only see alimony payments that last as long as the marriage was in place, this can be a significant period of time. The law also provides for an extension of the alimony payment period under certain circumstances. To determine whether an adjustment the length of alimony is warranted the court will look at a number of factors. For example, the age of the parties at the time of the marriage and the time of the alimony award may help a court determine if a modification is needed.

However, there are a lot of other factors, too. The extent to which one spouse relied on the other during the marriage can play a big role in these determinations, as, too, can a party’s severe illness and medical decline. The outcome of property division may also affect the length of an alimony award, particularly if it was significantly one-sided. Other factors considered include the impact the marriage had on one party’s ability to become self-sufficient and any other factors the court deems necessary to reach a fair outcome.

Alimony is just one of a number of divorce legal issues that can have serious, long-lasting ramifications for New Jersey residents. To ensure that one receives an equitable resolution of these matters, it may be necessary to seek help from a skilled legal advocate who knows how to develop compelling legal arguments to further one’s position.