MORRIS PLAINS NEW JERSEY MORRIS COUNTY DIVORCE ATTORNEY ALIMONY

The New Jersey divorce judge properly included the ex-husband's bonus received for 2005 in fixing future alimony. Although the bonus had not yet been set for 2006, based on defendant's employment history and compensation arrangements, he did not establish there would be no bonus in the future. A trial judge, while calculating a supporting spouse's alimony obligation, may determine the amount of alimony based on the supporting spouse's base salary, coupled with the dependent spouse receiving a percentage of any future bonuses. Because the payor always has the right to move to modify if his income is lower than anticipated, the use of this flexible method may reduce future motion practice based on changed circumstances concerning the amount of the supporting spouse's future bonuses.    Suchenski v. Suchenski, New Jersey App. Div., January 10, 2008