Bergen County NJ Alimony Lawyer

Divorce Attorney for Spousal Support in Hackensack, New Jersey

Alimony, also known as spousal support, is a court-ordered payment issued from one spouse to another during and/or after a divorce. In New Jersey, there are several different types of alimony, which may apply to a given case at various stages of the divorce process. Unlike child support, which follows a specific formula known as the Child Support Guidelines, there are no hard-and-fast rules for calculating alimony in New Jersey. When you are wondering if and how alimony may factor into your divorce, it is highly advisable to consult with a New Jersey divorce attorney who understands and regularly handles spousal support issues.

At Elfant Rickett Law Firm LLC, we concentrate solely on NJ divorce and family law matters. We have tackled the most complex and contentious alimony battles on behalf of clients like this one:

“I was going through a difficult divorce with a Court Order that obligated me to pay for all marital expenses and an attorney who was happy to go with the flow in a relaxing manner. One day, while in a Court room on a domestic violence hearing, I saw Rosa Rickett cross-examine her client’s partner in the middle of a trial that she was on. I was so impressed with Rosa’s courtroom skills, knowledge and power, that I approached her in the hall way of the court house afterwards and asked her for her card. Right there and then, I knew that I had to retain Rosa to represent me. Once Rosa was my attorney, she amended my support Court Order significantly and actually was able to get me some support in return. Rosa got my husband to the point where he knew that our situation had to end and that we needed to get divorced. I highly recommend Rosa Rickett to anyone who is looking for an attorney that not only has knowledge, but who is willing to fight for their client every step of the way.” – Farida

To read more of our client reviews, visit our Client Reviews Page or check out Rosa’s individual profile on Avvo.com. If you have questions about alimony in your divorce case, feel free to contact our offices to schedule a consultation with a seasoned Bergen County divorce lawyer. You can reach our offices in Hackensack by calling 201.968.5700.

How is Alimony Determined in New Jersey?

When determining an alimony arrangement during divorce, New Jersey courts do not employ a specific formula. Instead, they are required to consider a variety of factors and to apply any that are relevant to the specific case. According to New Jersey’s alimony statute, N.J.S.2A:34-23, all of the relevant factors among the following list must be weighed during alimony calculations:

1. The actual need and ability of the parties to pay;
2. The duration of the marriage or civil union;
3. The age, physical and emotional health of the parties;
4. The standard of living established in the marriage or civil union and the likelihood that each party can maintain a reasonably comparable standard of living, with neither party having a greater entitlement to that standard of living than the other;
5. The earning capacities, educational levels, vocational skills, and employability of the parties;
6. The length of absence from the job market of the party seeking maintenance;
7. The parental responsibilities for the children;
8. The time and expense necessary to acquire sufficient education or training to enable the party seeking maintenance to find appropriate employment, the availability of the training and employment, and the opportunity for future acquisitions of capital assets and income;
9. The history of the financial or non-financial contributions to the marriage or civil union by each party including contributions to the care and education of the children and interruption of personal careers or educational opportunities;
10. The equitable distribution of property ordered and any payouts on equitable distribution, directly or indirectly, out of current income, to the extent this consideration is reasonable, just and fair;
11. The income available to either party through investment of any assets held by that party;
12. The tax treatment and consequences to both parties of any alimony award, including the designation of all or a portion of the payment as a non-taxable payment;
13. The nature, amount, and length of pendente lite support paid, if any; and
14. Any other factors which the court may deem relevant.

After considering all of the above relevant factors, the court must also determine which type of alimony is applicable to a given case. There are several different types of alimony in New Jersey, including: pendente lite alimony (also known as temporary alimony), open durational alimony (replaced permanent alimony as of September 2014), limited duration alimony (also known as term alimony), rehabilitative alimony, and reimbursement alimony. With an experienced New Jersey divorce attorney on your side, you can trust that there is an advocate working toward establishing the best possible alimony arrangement for your specific divorce. At times, this can be achieved through negotiation, while in other scenarios, it requires a zealous court strategy. Rosa Elfant Rickett is a Bergen County divorce lawyer who is prepared to pursue any and all legal options to secure you a favorable result.

Contact a Ridgewood NJ Alimony Divorce Attorney to Discuss Your Case

If you are wondering whether or not alimony may apply to your New Jersey divorce, you are unsure whether you will be required to pay or will be the recipient of spousal support, you are concerned about how much your alimony payments may be, or you are embroiled in a dispute over maintenance payments, an experienced New Jersey divorce lawyer can help. Contact our offices in Hackensack today at 201.968.5700. to schedule your consultation. We assist clients throughout Bergen County, Morris County, Essex County, and New Jersey.