Posts tagged "spousal support"

If you live in New Jersey consider yourself lucky to live in a state that has one of the most comprehensive statutes governing alimony in the country, according to one report. In our state there are 13 deciding factors considered equally when determining a fair amount and duration for alimony payments. Just a few of the factors include income and health of the couple, age and length of the marriage.

Regardless of the factors involved, alimony is almost always a contentious subject when a marriage or civil union dissolves. Recently a group of people who pay alimony are calling for a complete reform of the New Jersey alimony statutes. At issue is whether judges should be required by law to follow a preset formula when deciding on issues of alimony. Currently judges are allowed some discretion when using the 13 factors in making their determination.

When a couple begins a divorce, they often don't know what to expect. People are often especially surprised when they find out about spousal and child support requirements. Recently, an article in The Huffington Post addressed this issue and named the top five things that people are surprised to learn about support orders. Here is summary of the list:

1. You may still have to pay your ex support even after he or she moves in with someone else. When it comes to spousal support, the court cares less about who's living with whom and more about the bottom line. The court merely looks at one spouse's need versus the other spouse's ability to pay. Therefore, if you ex moves in with someone, but that person is destitute, you may still pay support.