The Factors Taken into Consideration in Divorce and Permanent Alimony
For a financially dependent spouse, divorce can be especially trying. An experienced alimony lawyer, serving the people of East Brunswick, NJ and Freehold, NJ, Jeffrey Goldblatt helps financially dependent spouses receive alimony. Divorce and permanent alimony are complicated issues, and Jeffrey Goldblatt has over 30 years of experience helping his clients navigate them.
What Is Permanent Alimony?
The idea behind alimony is to make sure that a spouse with less access to resources and a lower earning potential is able to retain the standard of living they enjoyed while married. To make this happen, financial support is paid by one spouse to another. Permanent alimony, as the name suggests, is an ongoing and permanent form of alimony. It differs from reimbursement alimony, rehabilitative alimony, and limited duration alimony, all of which have set end dates.
Determining Alimony in New Jersey
A court hearing will be held in which both sides are afforded the opportunity to present evidence and testimony. Many factors will be considered by the state in deciding whether to award permanent alimony, including:
- Duration of the marriage or civil union
- Age
- Parental responsibilities
- Physical and emotional well-being
- Ability to pay alimony
- Earning capacity, skills, employability, and length of time out of the job market
- Time and expenses necessary to receive the requisite education and training for employment
- Education level
- Non-financial contributions such as child care
- Investment assets
Likely Candidates for Permanent Alimony
While it is not unheard of for a spouse in a short-term marriage to receive permanent alimony, it is fairly uncommon. Should extenuating circumstances exist, such as a permanent disability, the dependent spouse could receive permanent alimony in a short-term marriage.
However, most often, permanent alimony is awarded to a financially dependent spouse in a long-term marriage. A common example is a spouse who voluntarily stays home to raise children while the other partner earns the family’s sole source of income. In such cases, the spouse who does not receive any income may be awarded permanent alimony to ensure they do not forfeit the lifestyle they had lived throughout marriage.
Reasons Why You Need an Expert Alimony Lawyer
Divorce is one of the most life-altering experiences anyone can go through. If you are financially dependent on your spouse, you will need expert legal representation to ensure you are not left behind. Alimony lawyer Jeffrey Goldblatt will work diligently on your behalf to:
- Simplify a convoluted process
- Explain your rights and options clearly
- Evaluate every factor considered by the court including child care responsibilities, duration of marriage, taxes, distribution of assets, earning capacity, and education level
- Keep your best interests at the forefront of every decision
- Present your case clearly to ensure you do not receive a penny less than you should
- Treat you with compassion and understanding in a very difficult time
Contact Alimony Lawyer Jeffrey Goldblatt to Learn More
Alimony lawyer Jeffrey Goldblatt will work tirelessly on your behalf to ensure that you receive every bit of alimony you deserve. To learn how, contact us online.