- 45 Essex St, Hackensack, NJ 07601
- (201) 820-3460
- attorney@attorneyrobertdavies.com
Alimony cases are almost always emotionally and financially significant — whether you're the spouse seeking support or the one being asked to pay it. Attorney Robert Davies has handled every type of New Jersey alimony case across his 40+ year career in Bergen County. He knows the law inside and out, he knows how Bergen County Family Court approaches these cases, and he'll give you an honest picture of what you can realistically expect. We represent clients on both sides of alimony disputes. Free consultations are available for new clients.
New Jersey recognizes four types of alimony, and which applies — or whether more than one applies — depends on the length of your marriage and your specific circumstances.
In many cases, more than one type applies. A short-term rehabilitative component combined with limited duration support is one common example. We’ll help you understand which types are relevant to your situation and what arguments are likely to be most persuasive.
Unlike child support, alimony doesn’t follow a formula. Judges have significant discretion, and they consider a long list of statutory factors:
This is where preparation and presentation make the difference. We gather comprehensive financial documentation, work with expert witnesses when needed, and build a case that tells your full story to the court — including the parts that are easy to overlook if you’re not thorough.
Alimony isn’t always permanent. New Jersey law allows modifications when there’s been a substantial change in circumstances. Common reasons people return to court on alimony include:
Retirement is a particularly significant trigger under NJ’s 2014 alimony reform. A paying spouse who reaches full retirement age has a presumption in their favor for modification or termination. That presumption doesn’t make it automatic — the court still looks at both parties’ financial realities — but it’s a meaningful legal foothold.
We handle both requests for modifications and defense against modification attempts that aren’t justified by a genuine change in circumstances.
Alimony ends automatically when the supported spouse remarries, or when either party dies.
Alimony can be terminated through court proceedings when:
Cohabitation cases require detailed, specific documentation. Courts look for evidence of shared finances, shared household, and the kind of mutual commitment characteristic of a marriage-type relationship. We’ve handled many of these cases and know exactly what the court needs to see.
Alimony cases ask you to lay out the financial and personal details of your marriage in a formal legal proceeding. That takes preparation. It takes knowing what the judge is going to focus on, what evidence carries weight, and what arguments tend to land well in Bergen County Family Court.
We prepare our clients thoroughly for every stage — testimony, cross-examination, financial documentation, and expert witnesses when needed. By the time you walk into court, there shouldn’t be surprises. Robert Davies has litigated complex alimony cases for more than four decades in this very court system. That depth of experience shapes every case we take on.
It depends on the type and the circumstances. Open durational alimony for marriages of 20+ years has no set end date but can be modified or terminated. Limited duration alimony ends at a court-set date. Rehabilitative alimony ends when the plan is complete. All types are subject to modification or termination under the right circumstances.
Yes, prenups can address or waive alimony. Courts will scrutinize these agreements, particularly if one party claims the agreement was signed under duress or without full financial disclosure. Enforceability is fact-specific and we can evaluate whether an existing prenup is likely to hold up.
Yes. Remarriage of the supported spouse automatically terminates alimony in New Jersey. This is one of the few truly automatic termination events.
Contact us immediately. If your financial situation has genuinely changed, you can petition for a modification. But do not simply stop paying — that can result in contempt proceedings and the accumulation of arrears. A court order must change the amount before you can legally pay less.
No. Alimony must be requested by one of the parties. A judge won’t award it on their own initiative.
Very short marriages — one or two years — often don’t result in alimony, especially when both spouses are employed. But even in shorter marriages, if one spouse significantly compromised their career or educational path for the marriage, some support may be appropriate. We’ll give you a realistic read on your specific situation.
Contact The Davies Law Firm for a free consultation. We represent clients in alimony and spousal support cases throughout Rochelle Park and Bergen County, NJ.
THE DAVIES LAW FIRM, P.A.
Robert F. Davies, Esq.
