Alimony Attorneys | Schoff & Reardon, PLLC

New Hampshire Alimony Attorneys

Handling Alimony from All Sides

Alimony law in New Hampshire has changed considerably in the last several years. It involves numerous exceptions and different sets of circumstances that factor into determining the final amount. Having legal representation during alimony negotiations or litigation is essential. Our alimony attorneys, Tara Schoff and Ian Reardon have years of experience representing clients during alimony disputes.

Term Alimony, Reimbursement Alimony, Taxability?

Alimony can be one of the more complex legal issues that accompany a divorce. Just reviewing the New Hampshire alimony statutes, RSA 458:19, and RSA 458:19-a, will make it quite clear that this is an area of divorce law that is quite complicated. Not only are there different types of alimony, term and reimbursement, but things like the length of payments, income calculations, and taxability, are all vitally important in reaching an agreement or receiving a ruling from the court.

New Alimony Laws

The New Hampshire alimony laws underwent significant changes in 2019, with further updates in 2021. These modifications were notable and have led to comprehensive alterations in how alimony calculations and negotiations are handled by courts and attorneys. It is important to select an attorney experienced in settling and litigating cases under these new laws.

Term vs. Reimbursement

In New Hampshire, there exist two types of alimony: term and reimbursement. Term alimony aims to enable both parties to sustain a reasonable standard of living following the divorce. In contrast, reimbursement alimony seeks to provide compensation to a spouse who made financial sacrifices, thereby allowing the other spouse’s income to improve.

How Long?

Not only must a court determine how much alimony a spouse should pay, but it also needs to decide the duration of the payments. While the law offers guidelines, exceptions frequently arise. A simple alteration of just one year in alimony payments is likely to result in significant financial implications over time, likely amounting to thousands of dollars.

After Divorce - Modifying or Requesting Alimony

It’s fairly common occurrence that spouses return to court over alimony matters post-divorce. A party holds the right to request alimony for up to five years from the date of divorce, even when alimony wasn’t granted in the final divorce settlement or order. Moreover, individuals frequently seek adjustments to alimony amounts due to unforeseen changes in circumstances that arose after the divorce was final. Regrettably, this situation often sparks disputes, rendering alimony modifications prone to contention and necessitating the support of legal counsel.

Spouses can modify the amount and duration of term alimony as outlined in RSA 458:19-aa. Various factors can necessitate a modification, often tied to an increase or decrease in a spouse’s income or changes in a spouses need for support. Another factor that can lead to modification is the remarriage or cohabitation of the alimony recipient. Given the significant financial implications, an experienced attorney can be a worthwhile investment.