NJ Supreme Court Case Raises Important Questions About Alimony Awards for Stay-At-Home Spouses

The New Jersey Supreme Court yesterday began hearing arguments in the alimony dispute of Elizabeth Gnall v. James Gnall (Gnall v. Gnall). For anyone with questions concerning how and when permanent lifetime alimony is awarded, and whether stay-home-spouses should be expected to resume their career in the event of divorce, this is a case to pay attention because its outcome could change how future alimony awards are decided.
[Note: The NJ Supreme Court issued a decision in Gnall v. Gnall on July 29, 2015. For a summary of the Court’s findings, please see our update blog: NJ Supreme Court Case Addresses Questions About Alimony Awards for Stay-At-Home Spouses: Gnall v. Gnall (Part II).]







Many grown ups in their 40s and 50s are part of the so-called “sandwich generation,” a growing group of adults who find themselves stuck in the middle caring for their own children and for the needs of their aging parents. These adult children might find themselves tasked with duties ranging from bringing their elderly parent to doctor’s appointments to serving as Power of Attorney over their parent’s financial affairs. But what happens in the event an older parent decides to 