Obtaining a reduction in your alimony obligation can be difficult. The law requires clear proof that you’ve suffered a sizable enough non-temporary reduction in your income to warrant the reduction or elimination of alimony. The courts refer to this as a “substantial change in circumstance.” New Jersey court rules also…
Alimony arrangements can become infuriating when the alimony recipient secretly cohabitates with a new partner. This often results in one of two untenable situations: The alimony recipient may be using their alimony disbursements to financially support their new paramour; or the alimony recipient may be receiving cash payments of financial…
The New Jersey Family Collaborative Law Act creates a new way to settle differences in divorce and dissolution cases. This method of cooperative problem solving has its advantages, but when it fails it can potentially add time and expense to the process of terminating marriages and civil unions. If you…
A 2010 change to New Jersey law made oral agreements for palimony unenforceable. But it was unclear whether this change would affect agreements that were already in place. A landmark case was recently decided by the New Jersey Supreme Court, declaring that older oral palimony agreements are still valid. If…
In an alimony arrangement, the “obligor” is the person who is making alimony payments. Sometimes the obligor experiences an unexpected job loss or a reduction in income. This often leads to a request for an alimony modification judgment. An alimony modification can reduce or suspend the obligor’s alimony payment obligation.…
Alimony reform has brought sweeping changes to the way New Jersey judges evaluate alimony arrangements. This legislation creates guidelines to encourage predictability and fairness in divorce and separation proceedings. Although courts must adhere to these general guidelines, judges still retain a great deal of discretion in deciding cases. Therefore, you…
In the state of New Jersey, it is rare that the entry of your final judgment of divorce represents the final interaction with your former spouse, especially if your settlement agreement or judgment of divorce includes a provision for alimony to be paid. Whether you are the payor/obligor or the…
In a case decided on July 30, 2014, Viso vs. Viso, the Appellate Division rejected an appeal to modify the court order which denied the supporting spouse’s obligation to terminate or modify his support obligations. In this instance, the parties’ were divorced in December 2007 and memorialized their agreement in…