Hudson County Spousal Support Lawyer
When two people get married, they usually expect it to last forever. If the marriage does end in divorce, however, one spouse may need help re-establishing financial independence. A separation or divorce often leaves one spouse facing large economic challenges, notably if that person took time off from his or her career and relied on the other spouse to supply the household’s income.
With so many complex issues in play, you may need an experienced Hudson County spousal support lawyer on your side. Whether you are seeking support or arguing that you should not have to do so, a skilled family attorney could help.
Awarding Alimony
Spousal support is financial assistance that recognizes a partner’s contribution to the marriage and helps the recipient stay afloat financially. It may be granted as a temporary measure during divorce proceedings, for a specific amount of time, or permanently.
While courts are more likely to award temporary—often called rehabilitative or bridge-the-gap—support in short-term marriages of less than seven years, they are unlikely to award durational alimony unless the marriage lasted a minimum of seven years. Ultimately, judges have a great deal of discretion in how to award alimony. A dedicated spousal support lawyer in Hudson County could help a person consider alimony in the broader picture of their divorce settlement.
Crucial Questions to Ask About Spousal Support
As a knowledgeable Hudson County attorney could explain, the issue of spousal support typically turns on the answers to several key questions:
- Does one spouse have a substantially higher income than the other?
- Did one spouse forgo certain opportunities, whether in terms of education or career, during the marriage to concentrate on raising children?
- Is child support also being ordered, and how does this interact with the spousal support request?
- What is the health and age of the two parties?
- How long was the marriage?
Types of Spousal Support
Different types of spousal support that courts could order may include:
- Temporary (pendente lite) alimony – may be awarded during separation or divorce proceedings to help maintain the standard of living for both parties until the final divorce hearing
- Rehabilitative alimony – may be awarded to allow the spouse with the lower income to achieve the income level where they would have been if not for sacrifices in the marriage
- Permanent alimony – may be awarded in longer marriages, especially when a spouse is sick, disabled, or otherwise unable to become self-supporting
Unless the spouses signed a valid agreement that stipulates otherwise, the law in the state where the parties live will control their property rights and spousal support obligations. Even if an agreement was signed, though, it may be unenforceable.
As an example, this would be true if one spouse was not given sufficient time to read the agreement and grasp all of its implications. A Hudson County attorney could help an individual spouse identify potentially relevant factors like these in their spousal support situation.
Let a Hudson County Spousal Support Attorney Help
A qualified Hudson County spousal support lawyer should have the knowledge of New Jersey family law and the tenacity to deal with any complexities you may face regarding spousal support. Call today to find out how an attorney could help you pursue a positive outcome to your case.