THE BERNARDS-RIDGE CONNECTION PAGE 10 JUNE/JULY/AUGUST 2026 theconnectionsnj.com osing a job is stressful enough. When you’re also paying alimony, the financial pressure can feel crushing, and the path to court relief is not as straightforward as many people assume. In New Jersey, modifying alimony after involuntary job loss requires more than a simple assertion that you’re out of work. Courts want thorough, organized, credible evidence that you are genuinely seeking re-employment. Here’s what that documentation should look like. Build a Paper Trail from Day One The moment your employment ends, start building a detailed record of your job search. New Jersey courts routinely scrutinize whether a payor spouse has done “enough” to find new work, and vague claims won’t survive. Create a comprehensive log, perhaps using a spreadsheet, to capture every step you take, including: • Applications submitted: Record the employers’ names, position titles, dates, and methods of application. • Résumés and cover letters: Keep copies organized by date and recipient. • Recruiter correspondence: Save all emails, texts, or call notes from staffing agencies or headhunters. • Networking activity: Document informational meetings, professional events, and LinkedIn outreach with dates and contacts. • Interview details: Log every interview along with the outcome and any follow-up. • Rejection notices: Preserve any communication indicating your candidacy was not advanced. • Unemployment filings: Retain confirmation of your benefits application and related documentation. Quantity and Quality Both Matter A recent Appellate Division decision, Lopez-Grajales v. Barrios-Godinez (Feb. 2026), illustrates both the risks and opportunities here. The payor submitted tax returns reflecting reduced income over four years and more than 70 pages of handwritten notes documenting weekly job searches. A motion judge found the effort insufficient, but the Appellate Division reversed, holding that at the preliminary “prima facie” stage, an individual need not demonstrate the precise details of every employer contact or interview. Those details, the court held, are properly explored at a plenary hearing. The takeaway? Thorough records substantially improve your odds of clearing the initial threshold, but perfection is not required to get your foot in the courtroom door. The 90-Day Rule and Timing Under New Jersey’s 2014 amendments to the alimony statute, a non-self-employed party who has involuntarily lost a job may not file for modification until 90 days have passed since the loss of employment or the inability to return to prior income levels. After that period, the court may make any relief retroactive to the date of job loss, which is a strong incentive to document your search from day one. The Bottom Line If you’ve lost your job and are paying alimony in New Jersey, treat your job search as both a professional and a legal project. Keep meticulous records, preserve every communication, and organize your documentation so a judge can see immediately that your efforts are real. The bar to obtain a hearing is not insurmountable, but you must walk through the door with credible proof in hand. For more information regarding divorce in New Jersey, contact Morristown-based Fox Rothschild Family Law attorneys Eric S. Solotoff at esolotoff@foxrothschild.com or (973) 994-7501 or Jessica Diamond Lia at jlia@foxrothschild.com or (973) 994-7517. LAWYER’S VIEW When Your Income Disappears: What New Jersey Courts Want to See Before They’ll Revisit Your Alimony By Eric S. Solotoff and Jessica Diamond Lia The moment your employment ends, start building a detailed record of your job search. L Handling family law matters throughout New Jersey Sometimes Happily Ever After Needs a Rewrite. Not all stories have a fairytale ending. Our attorneys have the legal know-how and national firm resources it takes to design a successful strategy for complex, high net worth divorces.* Dedicated. Driven. Committed to helping you turn the page.* Eric Solotoff esolotoff@foxrothschild.com 973.994.7501 Jessica Diamond Lia jlia@foxrothschild.com 973.994.7517 Morristown | Princeton | Atlantic City *Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
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