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Maintaining Lifestyle Post Divorce

One of the key factors that courts must look at when determining or reviewing an alimony/spousal support award is the marital standard of living. How did the couples live when they were married? Is it possible for both spouses to maintain the marital lifestyle after a divorce? How much alimony/spousal support should be granted in order to make maintaining that lifestyle possible?

At the family law firm of Laufer, Dalena, Jensen, Bradley & Doran, LLC, our Morristown, New Jersey, divorce attorneys help clients protect their interests during the establishment and modification of alimony awards. We are one of the most recognized family law firms in northern New Jersey, committed to providing excellent service to our clients.

Many of our lawyers exclusively practice family law, and as such, are uniquely suited to helping you with your support agreements and modifications. To speak with one of our attorneys today, contact us online or through our Morristown offices at 973-975-4043.

Is It Possible To Maintain My Marital Lifestyle?

Generally, courts will look at the marital lifestyle as a factor in determining alimony/spousal support. There must be enough money to allow the parties to maintain the marital lifestyle in order for it to be considered a significant factor.

If you and your spouse have maintained a financially robust lifestyle and one spouse makes significantly less than the other, the court must make a finding to the standard of living established in the marriage. Can the supporting spouse reasonably maintain the dependent spouse at the former, marital lifestyle? Will the supporting spouse also be able to live in a way reasonably consistent with the former lifestyle?

Our New Jersey divorce attorneys will help you review your economic situation and determine whether an alimony award that maintains the standard of living enjoyed during marriage is appropriate and feasible.

Alimony Modification Lawyers In New Jersey

In Crews v. Crews, the New Jersey Supreme Court held that maintaining lifestyle is a factor that courts must consider when determining or modifying spousal support/alimony. Under New Jersey laws, spousal support may be modified when there is a significant change in circumstances. The court held that, in order to assess changed circumstances, judges must identify the standard of living at the time of the original divorce decree.

To request a modification based on standard of living, a dependent spouse needs to show that circumstances have changed to a point that he or she cannot support himself or herself in a standard reasonably comparable to the marital standard of living. For example, an original alimony order that incorrectly assumed a dependent spouse would be able to contribute to his or her own support in a way that would maintain a standard of living reasonably comparable to the marital standard of living may be modifiable. However, if the only change is that the supporting spouse now makes more money than he or she had at the time of the divorce, this is not a sufficient “changed circumstance” and modification may not be possible.

Whether you would like to modify your spousal support order or defend against a modification, speak with one of our New Jersey alimony lawyers today.

Contact Our Morristown Spousal Support Attorneys Today

Whether you wish to consult with an attorney regarding your pending alimony settlement, or in hopes of modifying an existing support agreement, the law firm of Laufer, Dalena, Jensen, Bradley & Doran, LLC, is ready to help. Featuring many attorneys selected for inclusion in the Super Lawyers list as it relates to family law, we have the recognition and experience necessary to handling any divorce or family law issue. For a complete overview of our attorneys and their years of inclusion to Super Lawyers, check out our attorney profiles or the section below.

For more information about spousal support and maintaining lifestyle, please speak with one of our attorneys in a consultation. We are available for evening and weekend appointments, charge reasonable rates, and are conveniently located one-half block from the Morristown Green. To speak with our family law team today, contact us online or through our offices at 973-975-4043.