Alimony
Alimony in New Jersey and Pennsylvania
Divorce and Alimony Attorney
While child support is based on very well-defined state guidelines, alimony is not based on such specific calculations. The decision to award alimony and how much to award will be greatly influenced by the ability of each party to demonstrate the need (or lack of need) for spousal support.
A divorcing spouse may receive temporary alimony (during the divorce proceedings), rehabilitative alimony (while the spouse gets job training to improve his or her earning potential, or for a spouse who is at home caring for young children), or he or she may get long-term spousal maintenance.
The Cherry Hill divorce and alimony attorneys at the Law Firm of Ronald A. Graziano, P.C., have a combined 40 years of experience in family law court in south New Jersey and southeastern Pennsylvania. Whether you are seeking the help of a trained mediator to collaboratively develop an alimony solution that works for you (divorce lawyer Robyn Bryson Flynn is a certified mediator), or you will be heading into court to prove your case, the extensive courtroom experience of our attorneys will work in your favor. Contact our office to schedule an appointment.
In the emotional battle of divorce, few things lead more easily to anger and fear than discussions of alimony. The court, however, does not make its decisions based on emotion. The goal of the court in granting alimony will be:
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To ensure that each party is or will become self-supporting, and then
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To allow each party to maintain their current standard of living, as much as possible.
If one spouse has been at home caring for a working spouse and children, that spouse will likely seek alimony. The non-working spouse may also need additional education or job training in order to enter the workforce. This can also be part of the alimony decision, either as a lump sum settlement or paid over time.
On the other hand, the at-home spouse may decline to work, either because there are still small children at home or for other reasons. The working spouse may make a case that the at-home spouse could earn income but refuses to do so. It is the role of an attorney in this situation to work with a vocational consultant to determine what income the non-working spouse could earn and to ask that alimony payments be reduced by that amount.
Alimony is tax deductible to the person paying it and it is taxable income to the person receiving it. Therefore, an increase in alimony will reduce child support so the two should be considered together in negotiations.
If you are seeking the help of an attorney with your divorce and alimony case, contact the South Jersey Law Firm of Ronald A. Graziano.
