Q: I'm divorced NJ on 4/8/2004 after 15.3 yrs. Been paying Alimony for 15.9. Am I eligible to stop paying alimony?

A: That's a very good question. I'm sure it is stressful not knowing what is going to happen. The short answer is it depends. There are many factors that play into alimony and the timing of termination. It is very specific to your unique situation. Some factors include any potential changes in circumstance you may have, if you are considering retirement, the wording of your Marital Settlement Agreement or Final Judgment of Divorce, or if your former spouse has remarried or commingled funds with a paramour.

The best thing to do is consult with an experienced family law attorney who can look at your circumstances and give you sound advice.

A: What does your divorce agreement or judgement of divorce say about the duration? Whether you have been paying for 1 year, 15.575 years or 22.125 years is irrelevant. The agreement or judgement will set forth the duration. If the agreement or judgement says that your obligation is "permanent", then it continues until there is a legitimate change in circumstance that would permit you to file an application with the court to have the court determine if you have a legal right to stop paying.

For retirement purposes and termination of your support obligation, start with the presumption that under the new alimony statute ( not applicable to you) that you need to hit full retirement age ( 67 1/2 ). I dont know how old you are or whether you are employed, etc but you cannot simply stop paying without a court order authorizing you to stop and to get a court order, you will need to file an application with the court to do so and most likely you will need a lawyer who specializes in divorce and family law to file that application to ensure that it is handled properly.