All News: New Jersey Alimony Reform
Past News: New Jersey Alimony Reform
Group proposes alimony changes
December 3, 2011
Arguing that New Jersey divorce laws should not be for richer or poorer, a group pushing for overhauls wants the state to end awards of lifetime alimony and legislate the terms of payments to former spouses.
The proposal borrows from Massachusetts, where a new alimony law going into effect next year will for the first time spell out the number of years alimony payments must be made.
Under the current Massachusetts and New Jersey law, judges can order lifetime alimony, no matter how long the marriage lasted, with no set rules on how to handle cases when the payer reaches retirement age or when the recipient begins living with a new partner.
The system has created extreme hardships, said Tom Leustek, president and co-founder of New Jersey Alimony Reform.
Lifetime Alimony? New Jersey Nonprofit Takes on Alimony Reform Laws
November 22, 2011
RAHWAY, N.J., How did your divorce go? Spouse get everything? House? Car? Way more than half your money, the retirement funds, the kid's college fund? And does your ex get alimony - for the rest of his or her life? How absurd is that? Even bank robbers get out after a few years. It's New Jersey's "Alimony Life Sentence." Divorce never ever ends in New Jersey.
The state's seriously out-of-date 1950s-era alimony laws were written when virtually all women were stay-at-home mothers, and there were no jobs for women. Men were the family breadwinners.
But today lifetime alimony is still predominate. Even when payments cause serious hardship for the payer (man or woman), they are routinely "awarded."
NJ Alimony Debate on the Deminski & Doyle Show
Aired on November 21, 2011
Jeff Deminski & Bill Doyle discuss NJ Alimony Reform and interview its founder, Tom Leustek, on their radio show. They discuss whether permanent alimony should exist in this current day and age and listen to callers voicing their opinions and sharing their personal horror stories.
Listen to Broadcast:
Alimony Reform Sweeps the Coast -
New Jersey Alimony Reform
November 16, 2011
Strong weather usually moves from Florida up the East Coast. But in this case, the winds of change are going in the other direction.
Call it the Massachusetts Miracle: A grassroots organization founded and run by a man who owns a printing and copy store, Stephen Hitner of Mass Alimony Reform, was the driving force behind the state's radical overhaul of its antiquated alimony laws.
Since Gov. Deval Patrick signed the new law in September -- endorsed by the major Bar Associations and with unanimous votes in the legislature -- citizens' groups in two other states, Florida and New Jersey, are attempting to follow in Massachusetts' footsteps.
Florida Alimony Reform News: Alimony reform bills filed in Florida
November 4, 2011
Some of you may have heard - the news we've all been waiting for: alimony reform is moving forward in Florida!
Because of FAR's efforts - and because of all your support - in recent days, two key legislators have introduced identical bills in the House and Senate that will bring our alimony laws into the 21st century: Rep. Ritch Workman (District 30; Brevard) and Sen. Diaz de la Portilla (District 36; Miami Dade). To read the bills, click here: HB 549 or SB 748.
Massachusetts governor signs landmark alimony reform bill
September 26, 2011
BOSTON — Gov. Deval Patrick on Monday signed into law new limits on alimony in Massachusetts, sharply curbing lifetime alimony payments in divorce cases and making a series of other changes to a system that critics considered outdated.
The previous system allowed judges to award lifelong alimony after both short and long marriages, in contrast to the practices of most states. It often required payments to continue even after the spouse paying the alimony retired or the spouse receiving it moved in with a new partner.
Alimony in Massachusetts Gets Overhaul
September 26, 2011
Strong weather usually moves from Florida up the East Coast. But in this case, the winds of change are going in the other direction.
Call it the Massachusetts Miracle: A grassroots organization founded and run by a man who owns a printing and copy store, Stephen Hitner of Mass Alimony Reform, was the driving force behind the state's radical overhaul of its antiquated alimony laws.
Since Gov. Deval Patrick signed the new law in September -- endorsed by the major Bar Associations and with unanimous votes in the legislature -- citizens' groups in two other states, Florida and New Jersey, are attempting to follow in Massachusetts' footsteps.
Alimony reform in Mass. ends pay until death
September 26, 2011
Gov. Deval Patrick has signed a sweeping reform of Massachusetts’ alimony system that activists are praising as bringing rational criteria to a hodgepodge system and for ending “alimony-until-death” payments.
Once the alimony law goes into effect March 1, divorcing couples will see their alimony payments established based on numerous factors, such as length of marriage, ages, income, employability and spousal conduct during the marriage.
“Judges will now be able to consider the facts of each case in determining alimony orders,” said Denise Squillante, past president of the Massachusetts Bar Association. Before, she said, litigants were faced with “a hodgepodge of conflicting alimony orders.”