So was "Vincent", from Brielle.
"Vincent" (not his real name) never expected to be Googling “NJ alimony calculator” at midnight, but there he was.
His 18-year marriage was ending, and his wife had just thrown out a monthly alimony number that made his jaw drop.
He wanted to be fair.
But he didn’t want to get steamrolled.
So he searched for answers.
He found slick websites with sliders, formulas, and promises.
But every calculator gave a different number, and none explained why.
That’s when Vincent found me, and learned the truth.
There’s No Such Thing as a Real NJ Alimony Calculator
You won’t find one, because it doesn’t exist.
Not in Monmouth County.
Not anywhere in New Jersey.
Why not?
Because NJ law doesn’t use a formula.
Judges decide alimony based on 19 separate factors, including:
How long you were married
Your income vs. your spouse’s
How you lived during the marriage
Your age, health, education, parenting roles, and more
Many cases begin with a rough estimate — what we call the “25% Rule of Thumb.”
Here’s how it works:
Spouse A makes $200,000
Spouse B makes $60,000
Income gap = $140,000
25% of that = $35,000/year (~$2,900/month)
It’s not law.
It’s not guaranteed.
But it’s a starting point — and often, it becomes the final number.
The real work is strategy — knowing when that number is fair, when it’s not, and how to argue it either way.
That’s where I helped Vincent.
And that’s where I may be able to help you.
I’m Steve Kaplan.
I’ve been handling divorce cases in Monmouth County for over 37 years.
I created a free NJ Divorce Email Course to give you clear, practical guidance — before you make costly decisions.
You’ll get:You don’t need to give your name.
Just your email.
Your first article arrives in minutes
You can unsubscribe anytime — but most people don’t.
Because this really helps.
Enter your email in the form on this page to sign up for Steve Kaplan's Divorce Course.
Your future deserves real answers.
Steve
Steven J. Kaplan, Esq.
5 Professional Circle, Colts Neck, NJ 07722
(732) 845-9010 | www.KaplanDivorce.com
