There are a lot of misconceptions out there about how divorce laws apply to men. One of the biggest is that stay-at-home dads can’t seek alimony. This absolutely isn’t the case. In fact, the spousal support laws in New Jersey are gender-neutral, which means that any spouse who feels like sacrifices have been made for the family’s benefit may have the ability to successfully obtain an alimony order.
What can you do to build your case?
If you’re a stay-at-home dad who is hoping to secure some support post-divorce, then you’re going to have to be prepared to make compelling arguments to support your position. How do you do that?
Simply put, you need to gather and present evidence that shows what you gave up, what the marital standard of living was, and what you need to maintain that standard of living until you become self-supporting. Your custody arrangement may be important to an alimony determination, too.
What does that evidence look like?
Some of this evidence might come from your own testimony, such as when you tell the court what you would’ve done if you hadn’t given up your education or career in order to raise your kids. But you might also need documentary evidence to show what your standard of living looked like during your marriage. This might include documents related to your mortgage, vehicles, vacations, and shopping. You also might need employment records from your spouse that show what he or she makes.
Don’t be afraid to take legal action
For whatever reason, a lot of stay-at-home dads are ashamed to seek alimony. Don’t let societal stigma dissuade you from seeking out the relief that you need. After all, an alimony order may be the only way to ensure that you have the financial support that you need post-divorce.
So, if you’re ready to fight for the compensation that you deserve, then start thinking about what you can do to present the best arguments possible given the facts at hand.
