Monmouth County Palimony Lawyers

Financial Support for Unmarried Couples

In New Jersey, if you and your partner are unmarried and now you decide to go your separate ways, you can still receive support, much like a divorced couple can receive alimony.

In the case of an unmarried couple separating and one seeks support from the other, it is called "palimony." Palimony is court awarded financial support paid by one person to the other of a couple that, though unmarried, formerly had a marital-type relationship.

If you think you are entitled to palimony, contact an experienced palimony attorney at the Law Office of Steven P. Monaghan, LLC today for assistance.

How You Establish the Case for Palimony

A marital-type relationship is an essential requirement for an award of palimony. New Jersey courts have decided that cohabitation is not necessarily an essential requirement for a palimony action.

In 2010, the New Jersey legislature required that an agreement for palimony must be in writing. The agreement must be signed by the person who promises to support the other. Each party must also receive independent legal advice of counsel for the agreement to be enforceable. 

The other component of a couple splitting up generally involves dividing property. In a divorce case, this is referred to as "equitable distribution." In the case of a nonmarried couple, the courts will rely on general principles of equity and fairness to reach a decision. The court looks to whether the two parties were "joint venturers," who are entitled to partition, or split, their property.

New Jersey palimony issues are heard in the family court.

Unmarried and Splitting Up? You Could Receive Support.

If you are unmarried and are now separating from your partner, you could be eligible for support, under certain conditions. To find out more, contact a Monmouth County divorce lawyer at the Law Office of Steven P. Monaghan, LLC.

Your initial consultation with us is always free. To get started, call (732) 624-6343 today!