A Possible Soultion for NJ Alimony Laws

It’s been more than 35 years since the New Jersey Alimony Laws have been changed and with all that has happened since then, I think it’s about time to revisit the issue.  Fortunately the powers that be agree with me. 

Among the many flaws in New Jersey that need to be addressed is lifetime alimony. Thanks to our ever changing economy, people’s lives and financial situation change more than ever. It ‘s not fair to lock in a lifetime rate, especially if the person paying loses their job. There are people who have never been imprisoned except for this reason and now have a criminal record.  Families are destroyed. Children grow up messed up as they watch their parents fight over everything that they built together. You would think reasonable people would be able to work this out. But when ego, emotion and lawyers get involved, as they say in New Jersey, “fagaddaboutit.”

Here’s an idea, Why not put a chart in the divorce agreement that if you make a certain amount, you pay a fixed percentage of that salary. This way, no matter what happens to you or your job, you can still pay something.  If, when you split the assets, the payee takes less, then the payer has to make that up as well. If the payee should find that the payer is claiming less but making more, then it gets ugly, but only then.  This would save so much court time and lawyers fees that it couldn’t possibly work because it makes too much sense.

What do you think? How would you change the alimony laws in NJ? Leave your comments below.