Feeling Trapped by Unfair Alimony in New Jersey? Here’s What You Can Do

Alimony was supposed to help your ex get back on their feet. Not keep you financially tied to someone who refuses to move forward.

You pay the bills. You cover your own expenses. And yet, month after month, a portion of your income goes out the door to someone who is no longer part of your life—but still expects support.

If that sounds familiar, you are not alone. At Netsquire, we hear it every day.

“My alimony payments are destroying my budget.”
“My ex refuses to work.”
“This is not what I agreed to when I got divorced.”

Alimony can be a necessary part of divorce in New Jersey—but it is not supposed to feel like punishment. If your current obligation feels unfair or excessive, there may be legal grounds to fix it.

Let’s talk about your options.

What is Unfair Alimony?

The truth is, unfair alimony looks different for everyone. But most clients know it when they feel it.

Maybe you were ordered to pay based on income you no longer earn. Maybe your ex is living rent-free with a new partner and still collecting monthly checks. Maybe your financial needs have changed, and no one’s taken that into account.

You are not asking for special treatment. You are asking for a fair shake based on today’s reality.

Here are a few signs that your current alimony order may be excessive or outdated:

• The payments exceed what you can reasonably afford
• Your ex-spouse has not made a good-faith effort to become self-sufficient
• Your ex-spouse is living with someone else and sharing expenses
• You have experienced job loss, medical hardship, or retirement
• The award was based on inflated or temporary income

In New Jersey, the court allows for changes—but you have to ask for them the right way.

Option 1: Request a Modification Based on Changed Circumstances

This is the most common way to fix unfair alimony. If your financial picture has changed substantially, or your ex’s situation no longer justifies ongoing support, you can file a motion to modify your alimony order.

What counts as a change in circumstances?

• Involuntary job loss or reduction in income
• Disability or serious illness
• Retirement (if made in good faith and at reasonable age)
• Your ex becoming employed or earning more
• Your ex cohabiting with a new partner

Courts in New Jersey do not modify alimony on a whim. You will need to prove that your circumstances have changed significantly since the original order—and that the current arrangement is no longer fair.

At Netsquire, we help clients gather the documentation and build the legal arguments courts want to see. We do the heavy lifting so you can focus on getting back in control.

Option 2: Prove Voluntary Underemployment

You cannot force your ex to get a job—but the court can impute income to them if they are clearly choosing not to work or working below their ability.

This is a common problem.

One spouse works full time and pays support. The other stays home, despite having an education, experience, or no clear barrier to rejoining the workforce.

If your ex has the ability to earn but simply refuses to try, we can present evidence to the court showing:

• Their prior employment history
• Their qualifications or certifications
• Job availability in their field
• Patterns of intentional avoidance or bad-faith job searching

We can even bring in a vocational expert to assess what they could be earning—and ask the court to calculate alimony as if they were earning that amount.

Option 3: Terminate Alimony Based on Cohabitation

In New Jersey, alimony can be modified or ended when your former spouse begins cohabiting with a new partner.

Cohabitation does not just mean sleeping over occasionally. The court looks at things like:

• Shared living arrangements
• Commingled finances
• Joint responsibility for household expenses
• Public presentation as a couple

If your ex is living with someone who contributes to their support, the court may reduce or eliminate your alimony obligation. This is especially true when the relationship resembles a marriage in all but name.

We help clients collect and present evidence—from social media, lease agreements, utility bills, and more—to support a claim for termination.

Option 4: Challenge the Original Alimony Award

Was your alimony order based on faulty information? Were your spouse’s income, expenses, or financial disclosures inaccurate at the time of divorce?

If you have evidence of misrepresentation, nondisclosure, or fraud, you may be able to challenge the original alimony determination—even after it is been finalized.

This option is less common and more difficult, but in some cases, it is the right move. We will be honest with you about the likelihood of success and whether this is worth pursuing.

Option 5: Consider a Lump-Sum Buyout

Some people prefer closure over conflict. If you are in a position to do so, offering your ex a one-time lump-sum settlement in exchange for ending alimony may be the cleanest path forward.

This is often used in limited-duration alimony cases where there is still time left on the order, but both parties are open to negotiating a final payout.

A buyout gives you predictability, finality, and the freedom to move on without monthly reminders of your past relationship.

Do Not Stop Paying Alimony Without Court Approval

Even if your alimony feels wildly unfair, you must continue paying until the court says otherwise. Skipping payments without a formal modification order can result in:

• Wage garnishment
• License suspension
• Contempt of court
• Accrued arrears (plus interest)

The right approach is filing a motion to modify, then documenting your compliance while the matter is pending. We help clients navigate this entire process virtually, quickly, and professionally.

How Netsquire Helps You Reclaim Control

We are not here to drag your ex through the mud. We are here to fix a situation that is no longer working.

Our team at Netsquire has helped people all over New Jersey fight back against outdated or unfair alimony obligations. We understand the law, but more importantly, we understand the stress.

When you work with us, you get:

• Strategic planning based on New Jersey alimony laws
• Paperwork and filings handled virtually, statewide
• Direct access to real attorneys who listen and deliver
• No fluff—just focused legal action to help you move forward

You Deserve to Be Free from an Unfair Obligation

Alimony should never feel like a life sentence. If your current payments no longer reflect what is fair, it is time to take a closer look.

You worked hard to build a life after divorce. You should not be stuck paying more than your share—especially when the circumstances have clearly changed.

Let us help you make it right.

Book a consultation with Netsquire today and take the first step toward ending or reducing unfair alimony. Your future starts with one smart decision—and we are ready to help you make it.