SHORT HILLS NEW JERSEY ESSEX COUNTY DIVORCE ALIMONY MODIFICATION ATTORNEY

This was the 18th post-judgment motion filed since the parties' 2002 New Jersey divorce. Here, the ex-husband sought to reduce alimony obligation and to adjust the parties' percentage shares of their two minor children's unreimbursed medical expenses. The alimony was set at 7 years of limited duration, to expire next year. Moreover, the father's income has only slightly fallen since the original award, and the mother's has only slightly increased; the father still earns almost double the salary of the mother. This did not represent a sufficient change of circumstances to justify relief. Nor is there any reason to alter the 55%-45% split as to the children's unreimbursed medical expenses, which remains substantially equitable. Finally, the award of counsel fees to the mother is not unreasonable under the circumstances.     La Venuta, etc. v. La Venuta, New Jersey App. Div., February 4, 2008