Are you eligible to receive spousal support?

Like many adults facing divorce, you may have concerns about how this decision will impact your life long-term. One of the main areas where you will see significant changes is with your finances. Regardless of your income, your divorce will impact your financial health, and it is important to be prepared for the changes you will encounter. It is important to know whether you will receive alimony or whether you will have to pay it.

Alimony, also called spousal support, is the money given from one former spouse to the other. Typically, the lesser-earning New Jersey spouse is the one who will receive these payments, but there are many different factors that go into this determination. If you believe that you could be eligible for these payments, it is helpful to know how much you could receive and how long you expect these payments to last.

Facts about alimony

The intent of alimony is to offset the economic inequity often brought about by a divorce. If you earn significantly less than your spouse, you may fear that divorce will leave you without the support you need for your everyday life. There are different types of alimony for which you could be eligible, which include the following:

• Reimbursement alimony: This type of alimony is to repay you for your financial contributions made throughout your marriage. This may also include any money you paid to support your spouse while he or she was in school.
• Rehabilitative alimony: This type of alimony provides you with support on a short-term basis during the transitional time immediately after your divorce is final. Payments may stop when you become self-sufficient.
• Temporary alimony: This alimony may be granted for a specific period of time, and the point at which the payments will stop is determined by the judge and outlined in the order.
• Permanent alimony: The court grants this type of alimony on a permanent basis. It may end if the receiving spouse remarries or is no longer in need of continued financial support.

It will be helpful for you to learn more about alimony as you navigate your divorce. While a court can decide on matters related to spousal support, you can also negotiate the terms of your order if you would prefer. As you consider your options, you may benefit from a professional opinion.