If you’ve been ordered to pay alimony during your divorce, one of your first questions is likely how long those payments will last. You want to know when your obligation to provide support to your former spouse will end.
Under New Jersey law, the duration of alimony is often tied to the length of your marriage. If you were married for less than 20 years, the court generally cannot order you to pay alimony for a period longer than the duration of your marriage.
For example, if you and your spouse were married for three years before realizing the relationship wasn’t meant to be, the maximum duration for alimony would be three years. Similarly, if you were married for 15 years, the maximum duration would also be 15 years. This does not mean the court will automatically order you to pay for the full duration, but it sets the limit on how long alimony can last.
There are some exceptions
As with most laws, there are exceptions to these rules. For instance, a judge may determine that “exceptional circumstances” exist in your specific case. If so, they could order alimony to extend beyond the length of the marriage. These decisions are made on a case-by-case basis and rely on the judge’s discretion.
Additionally, if your marriage lasted longer than 20 years, there is greater flexibility regarding how long you may be required to pay alimony. Every divorce case is unique, which is why it’s crucial to understand all of the legal steps you can take as you navigate this process.