When your marriage ends in New Jersey, there are a few ways that you can still support yourself financially. One is to file for alimony. While there are no official guidelines in place for calculating the amount that you could receive, there are a few factors that are often considered by the court so that the amount is fair for both parties.
Needs
One factor that’s usually considered when determining alimony is the needs of each party. The ability of the other party to pay alimony is considered as well. While you might have a house payment and utilities to continue paying after the divorce, the other party might not work as many hours or might not have the income needed to pay a high amount. The incomes of both parties are typically examined in order to make the best arrangement possible.
Length of relationship
When seeking legal assistance, you’ll need to disclose the length of the marriage as this is usually one of the factors used when determining how much money you could receive. Couples who have been married longer could receive more in support compared to a couple who has only been married for a few years or a few months. However, the payments usually stop when the receiving party gets married again.
Children
If there are children involved, then you could receive more in alimony if you provide most of the care for the child. However, a child support order could be filed, which could decrease the amount of alimony that you receive because money is coming through two different orders from the same person.
After making the decision to end your marriage, you could still need financial help. Alimony is an option for at least a short time so that you can get back on your feet and support yourself and your family.