When Alimony Is Set Too High, Both Parties Lose

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Alimony, otherwise known as spousal support, is intended to protect the less financially stable partner once a marriage ends. However, when circumstances change, this protective order for one partner turns into a hardship for the other and both parties lose. It is the need to address these changing circumstances that have some calling for reform of the State’s alimony laws.
A recent Hunterdon County case illustrates the negative effect New Jersey’s current alimony laws can have on a family. Following his 2011 divorce, John Waldorf was ordered to pay both spousal and child support. The problem was that the spousal support payments alone exceeded his average annual take home pay. Waldorf was jailed for failure to meet his alimony obligations. As a result his ex-wife, who is disabled, received no financial support. To make matters even worse, Waldorf lost his job while in jail, further hindering his ability to meet his court-ordered obligations. (1)