When a couple in New Jersey decide to divorce, one spouse may be ordered to pay alimony — also known as spousal support or maintenance — to their ex. It is important to note that not every award of alimony is permanent. In fact, New Jersey recognizes four types of non-permanent alimony.
One type of alimony that may be awarded in a divorce is open durational alimony. This means the receiving spouse will continue receiving alimony as long as they have a valid, lawful reason for being unable to support themselves financially without the alimony payments.
Another type of alimony that may be awarded in a divorce is rehabilitative alimony. This type of alimony is limited in its duration and is meant to help the receiving spouse obtain the education or training needed to obtain a job that allows them to support themselves.
A third type of alimony recognized in New Jersey is limited duration alimony. As the name implies, these payments will only last for a certain amount of time. This type of alimony may be appropriate if the parties’ marriage was short-term and the receiving spouse is relatively young and able to get a job.
Finally, there is reimbursement alimony. This is a set amount of money that is intended to pay the receiving spouse back for supporting the paying spouse while the paying spouse was seeking an education.
This is only a brief overview of alimony in New Jersey, and it is for educational purposes only. It does not contain legal advice. Those who want more information about alimony in New Jersey can seek the assistance of a family law attorney.