If you and your spouse decide that it is time to end the marriage, you will likely have to negotiate an alimony agreement in accordance with state law. In New Jersey, there are several different options for spousal support. If you and your spouse are able to agree on an alimony plan together or with help from a mediator, it may prevent spending time and resources going through the process of getting an alimony order from a court.
According to FindLaw, New Jersey law recognizes several different types of spousal support. Alimony may consist of ongoing payments over either a short or long length of time, though lump-sum agreements may also exist. For example, you may receive rehabilitative alimony if you need temporary financial assistance while you complete formal education or vocational training in order to support yourself. Open durational alimony is usually a long-term arrangement that may last as long as the recipient has a valid reason for being unable to support himself or herself.
A more specific type of spousal support is reimbursement alimony, which you may receive in payment for the support to your spouse’s education that you provided during the marriage. For example, if you paid for tuition or took care of your children while your spouse went to school, you may get repayment in the form of a monetary sum after divorce.
Another type of short-term support is limited duration alimony, which usually applies in cases when you and your spouse are young and have an easier time finding employment. This type of alimony is common with shorter marriages. In general, the length of most alimony agreements will not be longer than the marriage itself, though special conditions such as chronic illness may create exceptions.