How long is spousal support paid in NJ?

There is no one set answer regarding how long is spousal support paid in NJ. The answer depends on the circumstances of the couple in question and the courts belief in how long spousal support may be required. 

As a general matter, spousal support is divided into two separate categories:

• Permanent alimony or support is paid indefinitely on a monthly basis. Unless there is a material change in income, this may continue until the spouse receiving or paying dies, or until the person who is getting the alimony payments gets remarried.  Permanent alimony is generally considered appropriate by the court if there is likely to be an ongoing and continuing inability of one spouse to generate enough money to maintain a standard of living similar to that he or she enjoyed during the course of the marriage
• Temporary alimony is support that is paid for a designated time period. This type of alimony is awarded if the receiver's need for it is expected to be short term. In other words, if one spouse let his professional license lapse during the marriage because he was caring for children, temporary alimony may be awarded to provide him with support for the duration of time required to renew the license and begin earning an income sufficient to support himself. 

The amount and duration of alimony may also be based on factors such as how long the marriage lasted, whether one party is at fault for the divorce, and each spouses' contribution during the time they were married. It may be awarded to either the husband or the wife, based on need.

If you are going through a divorce, a consultation with a lawyer can be invaluable in understanding whether alimony is likely to be awarded. Your lawyer can also assist you in dealing with other matters related to the divorce.