New bill would end permanent alimony in N.J.
A new bill in the state Assembly would eliminate permanent alimony in New Jersey and establish guidelines for the length and amount of alimony.
The bill, introduced last Thursday, is modeled after Massachusetts’ alimony reform bill, which was passed in 2011 on the strength of a grassroots movement to overhaul spousal support laws. A nearly identical battle has been waged here in New Jersey, and this bill appears to be the biggest step in the fight for reformists, who view the laws as sexist and antiquated.
On the other side, many lawyers say each alimony case is unique and requires a judge’s discretion, which the law allows; guidelines would strip that discretion, they have argued.
Aside from eliminating permanent alimony awards, the bill would introduce a scale for alimony payments relative to the length of marriage. For example, if a marriage or civil union lasts five years or less, the term of the alimony payment would be no longer than half the number of the months the marriage or civil union lasted. So if a couple were married for five years, the alimony award would last no longer than 30 months.
http://www.app.com/article/20130315/NJNEWS/303150092/