Rehabilitative Alimony: What Happens When a Stay-at-Home Parent Needs To Re-Enters the Workforce After Divorce?
In many marriages, one spouse reduces their hours or leaves the workforce altogether to raise children and manage the household. While this choice often benefits the family, it can leave the stay-at-home parent financially vulnerable if the marriage ends. Questions quickly arise: Will my spouse be required to provide alimony? Will the court expect me to support myself right away? How can I find work when my skills feel outdated?
In New Jersey, the answers depend on several factors, including the length of the marriage, each spouse’s financial circumstances, and the dependent spouse’s ability to return to work. One option that often comes into play for stay-at-home parents is rehabilitative alimony.
Understanding Rehabilitative Alimony in New Jersey
New Jersey law recognizes several types of alimony, each designed for different circumstances. Traditional “spousal support” helps the lower-earning spouse maintain the marital standard of living. But when one spouse has been out of the workforce for many years, courts often consider the addition of rehabilitative alimony.
Rehabilitative alimony provides temporary support while the dependent spouse gains the education, training, or job experience needed to become self-sufficient after the divorce. It acknowledges the gap created by years at home and gives the recipient time and resources to rebuild a career.
For example:
- A former teacher may need a year of coursework or updated licensing before returning to the classroom.
- A parent who once worked in accounting may need training in new software systems.
- A spouse pursuing a new career path that requires returning to college.
Why Courts Award Rehabilitative Alimony
In granting rehabilitative alimony, courts recognize the unique challenges faced by spouses who have been out of the workforce:
- Outdated skills — technology, industry standards, and job requirements may have shifted dramatically.
- Loss of a professional network — contacts that once opened doors may no longer be accessible.
- Family responsibilities — even with older children, balancing work and single parenthood can make full-time employment difficult at first.
Because of these realities, New Jersey courts rarely expect a stay-at-home parent to achieve financial independence overnight. Instead, judges focus on earning capacity — what the spouse could reasonably earn with appropriate “career rehabilitation” in the form of training, education, or time to reestablish their career.
Factors Judges Consider
When deciding alimony, New Jersey judges weigh several statutory factors, including:
- The length of the marriage.
- The dependent spouse’s education, skills, and prior work experience.
- The time and expense needed to obtain training or education.
- The age and health of both spouses.
- The standard of living established during the marriage.
For a parent who has been out of the workforce for enough time that barriers exist for re-entry, a judge may find rehabilitative alimony appropriate to cover the costs of certification programs, refresher courses, or even a degree program. Courts often require a rehabilitation plan, which outlines the concrete steps the dependent spouse will take to rebuild employability.
Balancing Support and Independence
New Jersey’s alimony laws aim for balance. Support is not meant to punish the paying spouse, nor should it leave the dependent spouse without resources after years of sacrifice for the family. Instead, the goal is fairness — recognizing the economic partnership of marriage while also encouraging eventual independence after divorce.
For stay-at-home parents reentering the workforce, this usually means temporary financial support while they regain their footing. As income grows, alimony may be reduced or terminated, depending on the circumstances.
If you have more questions about alimony, divorce, or any other family law issue, we are here to help. Contact us or call us today at 888-888-0919 schedule your initial confidential consultation with one of our skilled and compassionate attorneys.
