Alimony and Spousal Support in New Jersey

The court may award open durational, rehabilitative, limited duration or reimbursement alimony, considering factors such as actual need and ability to pay, length of the marriage, age and health, the marital standard of living, earning capacities and employability, parental responsibilities, each spouse's contributions, and tax consequences. For marriages under 20 years, the total duration of alimony may not exceed the length of the marriage except in exceptional circumstances.

New Jersey uses equitable distribution. Property acquired during the marriage by one spouse through gift, devise or inheritance (other than gifts between spouses) is not subject to distribution. The court weighs factors including the length of the marriage, age and health, property each brought into the marriage, the marital standard of living, written agreements, each spouse's economic circumstances, income and earning capacity, contributions to the other's education, contributions to marital property (including as a homemaker), tax consequences, debts, and the custodial parent's need to stay in the home. There is a rebuttable presumption that each spouse made a substantial contribution to property acquired during the marriage.