MAINTENANCE Domestic Relations Law 236-B(5-a) & (6) For divorces filed after January 25, a. Temporary maintenance awards.

Transcription

1 MAINTENANCE Dmestic Relatins Law 236-B(5-a) & (6) Fr divrces filed after January 25, a. Temprary maintenance awards. a. Except where the parties have entered int an agreement prviding fr maintenance pursuant t subdivisin three f this part, in any matrimnial actin the curt, upn applicatin by a party, shall make its award fr temprary maintenance pursuant t the prvisins f this subdivisin. b. Fr purpses f this subdivisin, the fllwing definitins shall be used: (1) Payr shall mean the spuse with the higher incme. (2) Payee shall mean the spuse with the lwer incme. (3) Length f marriage shall mean the perid frm the date f marriage until the date f cmmencement f actin. (4) Incme shall mean incme as defined in the child supprt standards act and cdified in sectin tw hundred frty f this article and sectin fur hundred thirteen f the family curt act withut subtracting alimny r maintenance actually paid r t be paid t a spuse that is a party t the instant actin pursuant t subclause (C) f clause (vii) f subparagraph five f paragraph (b) f subdivisin ne-b f sectin tw hundred frty f this article and subclause (C) f clause (vii) f subparagraph five f paragraph (b) f subdivisin ne f sectin fur hundred thirteen f the family curt act and withut subtracting spusal supprt paid pursuant t sectin fur hundred twelve f such act. (5) Incme cap shall mean up t and including ne hundred seventyfive thusand dllars f the payr s annual incme; prvided, hwever, beginning January thirty-first, tw thusand sixteen and every tw years thereafter, the incme cap amunt shall increase by the sum f the average annual percentage changes in the cnsumer price index fr all urban cnsumers (CPI-U) as published by the United States department f labr bureau f labr statistics fr the prir tw years multiplied by the then incme cap and then runded t the nearest ne thusand dllars. The ffice f curt administratin shall determine and publish the incme cap. (6) Guideline amunt f temprary maintenance shall mean the dllar amunt derived by the applicatin f paragraph c r d f this subdivisin. (7) Self-supprt reserve shall mean the self-supprt reserve as defined in the child supprt standards act and cdified in sectin tw hundred frty f this article and sectin fur hundred thirteen f the family curt act. (8) Agreement shall have the same meaning as prvided in subdivisin three f this part. 1

2 c. Where the payr s incme is lwer than r equal t the incme cap, the curt shall determine the guideline amunt f temprary maintenance as fllws: (1) Where child supprt will be paid fr children f the marriage and where the payr as defined in this subdivisin is als the nn-custdial parent pursuant t the child supprt standards act: (a) the curt shall subtract twenty-five percent f the payee s incme frm twenty percent f the payr s incme. (b) the curt shall then multiply the sum f the payr s incme and the payee s incme by frty percent. (c) the curt shall subtract the payee s incme frm the amunt derived frm clause (b) f this subparagraph. (d) the curt shall determine the lwer f the tw amunts derived by clauses (a) and (c) f this subparagraph. (e) the guideline amunt f temprary maintenance shall be the amunt determined by clause (d) f this subparagraph except that, if the amunt determined by clause (d) f this subparagraph is less than r equal t zer, the guideline amunt f temprary maintenance shall be zer dllars. (f) temprary maintenance shall be calculated prir t child supprt because the amunt f temprary maintenance shall be subtracted frm the payr s incme and added t the payee s incme as part f the calculatin f the child supprt bligatin. (2) Where child supprt will nt be paid fr children f the marriage, r where child supprt will be paid fr children f the marriage but the payr as defined in this subdivisin is the custdial parent pursuant t the child supprt standards act: (a) the curt shall subtract twenty percent f the payee s incme frm thirty percent f the payr s incme. (b) the curt shall then multiply the sum f the payr s incme and the payee s incme by frty percent. (c) the curt shall subtract the payee s incme frm the amunt derived frm clause (b) f this subparagraph. (d) the curt shall determine the lwer f the tw amunts derived by clauses (a) and (c) f this subparagraph. (e) the guideline amunt f temprary maintenance shall be the amunt determined by clause (d) f this subparagraph except that, if the amunt determined by clause (d) f this subparagraph is less than r equal t zer, the guideline amunt f temprary maintenance shall be zer dllars. (f) if child supprt will be paid fr children f the marriage but the payr as defined in this subdivisin is the custdial parent pursuant t the child 2

3 supprt standards act, temprary maintenance shall be calculated prir t child supprt because the amunt f temprary maintenance shall be subtracted frm the payr s incme pursuant t this subdivisin and added t the payee s incme pursuant t this subdivisin as part f the calculatin f the child supprt bligatin. d. Where the payr s incme exceeds the incme cap, the curt shall determine the guideline amunt f temprary maintenance as fllws: (1) the curt shall perfrm the calculatins set frth in paragraph c f this subdivisin fr the incme f the payr up t and including the incme cap; and (2) fr incme exceeding the cap, the amunt f additinal maintenance awarded, if any, shall be within the discretin f the curt which shall take int cnsideratin any ne r mre f the factrs set frth in subparagraph ne f paragraph h f this subdivisin; and (3) the curt shall set frth the factrs it cnsidered and the reasns fr its decisin in writing r n the recrd. Such decisin, whether in writing r n the recrd, may nt be waived by either party r cunsel. e. Ntwithstanding the prvisins f this subdivisin, where the guideline amunt f temprary maintenance wuld reduce the payr s incme belw the self-supprt reserve fr a single persn, the guideline amunt f temprary maintenance shall be the difference between the payr s incme and the selfsupprt reserve. If the payr s incme is belw the self-supprt reserve, there shall be a rebuttable presumptin that n temprary maintenance is awarded. f. The curt shall determine the duratin f temprary maintenance by cnsidering the length f the marriage. g. Temprary maintenance shall terminate n later than the issuance f the judgment f divrce r the death f either party, whichever ccurs first. h. (1) The curt shall rder the guideline amunt f temprary maintenance up t the incme cap in accrdance with paragraph c f this subdivisin, unless the curt finds that the guideline amunt f temprary maintenance is unjust r inapprpriate, which finding shall be based upn cnsideratin f any ne r mre f the fllwing factrs, and adjusts the guideline amunt f temprary maintenance accrdingly based upn such cnsideratin: (a) the age and health f the parties; (b) the present r future earning capacity f the parties, including a histry f limited participatin in the wrkfrce; (c) the need f ne party t incur educatin r training expenses; 3

4 (d) the terminatin f a child supprt award during the pendency f the temprary maintenance award when the calculatin f temprary maintenance was based upn child supprt being awarded and which resulted in a maintenance award lwer than it wuld have been had child supprt nt been awarded; (e) the wasteful dissipatin f marital prperty, including transfers r encumbrances made in cntemplatin f a matrimnial actin withut fair cnsideratin; (f) the existence and duratin f a pre-marital jint husehld r a pre-divrce separate husehld; (g) acts by ne party against anther that have inhibited r cntinue t inhibit a party s earning capacity r ability t btain meaningful emplyment. Such acts include but are nt limited t acts f dmestic vilence as prvided in sectin fur hundred fiftynine-a f the scial services law; (h) the availability and cst f medical insurance fr the parties; (i) the care f children r stepchildren, disabled adult children r stepchildren, elderly parents r in-laws prvided during the marriage that inhibits a party s earning capacity; (j) the tax cnsequences t each party; (k) the standard f living f the parties established during the marriage; (l) the reduced r lst earning capacity f the payee as a result f having frgne r delayed educatin, training, emplyment r career pprtunities during the marriage; and (m) any ther factr which the curt shall expressly find t be just and prper. (2) Where the curt finds that the guideline amunt f temprary maintenance is unjust r inapprpriate and the curt adjusts the guideline amunt f temprary maintenance pursuant t this paragraph, the curt shall set frth, in a written decisin r n the recrd, the guideline amunt f temprary maintenance, the factrs it cnsidered, and the reasns that the curt adjusted the guideline amunt f temprary maintenance. Such decisin, whether in writing r n the recrd, shall nt be waived by either party r cunsel. (3) Where either r bth parties are unrepresented, the curt shall nt enter a temprary maintenance rder unless the curt infrms the unrepresented party r parties f the guideline amunt f temprary maintenance. 4

5 i. Nthing cntained in this subdivisin shall be cnstrued t alter the rights f the parties t vluntarily enter int agreements r stipulatins as defined in subdivisin three f this part which deviate frm the presumptive award f temprary maintenance. j. When a payr has defaulted and/r the curt is therwise presented with insufficient evidence t determine incme, the curt shall rder the temprary maintenance award based upn the needs f the payee r the standard f living f the parties prir t cmmencement f the divrce actin, whichever is greater. Such rder may be retractively mdified upward withut a shwing f change in circumstances upn a shwing f newly discvered evidence. k. In any actin r prceeding fr mdificatin f an rder f maintenance r alimny existing prir t the effective date f this subdivisin, brught pursuant t this article, the temprary maintenance guidelines set frth in this subdivisin shall nt cnstitute a change f circumstances warranting mdificatin f such supprt rder. l. In any actin r prceeding fr mdificatin where the parties have entered int an agreement prviding fr maintenance pursuant t subdivisin three f this part entered int prir t the effective date f this subdivisin, brught pursuant t this article, the temprary maintenance guidelines set frth in this subdivisin shall nt cnstitute a change f circumstances warranting mdificatin f such supprt rder. m. In determining temprary maintenance, the curt shall cnsider and allcate, where apprpriate, the respnsibilities f the respective spuses fr the family s expenses during the pendency f the prceeding. n. The temprary maintenance rder shall nt prejudice the rights f either party regarding a pst-divrce maintenance award. 5

6 6. Pst-divrce maintenance awards. a. Except where the parties have entered int an agreement pursuant t subdivisin three f this part prviding fr maintenance, in any matrimnial actin, the curt, upn applicatin by a party, shall make its award fr pstdivrce maintenance pursuant t the prvisins f this subdivisin.. b. Fr purpses f this subdivisin, the fllwing definitins shall be used: (1) Payr shall mean the spuse with the higher incme. (2) Payee shall mean the spuse with the lwer incme. (3) Incme shall mean: (a) incme as defined in the child supprt standards act and cdified in sectin tw hundred frty f this article and sectin fur hundred thirteen f the family curt act, withut subtracting alimny r maintenance actually paid r t be paid t a spuse that is a party t the instant actin pursuant t subclause (C) f clause (vii) f subparagraph five f paragraph (b) f subdivisin ne-b f sectin tw hundred frty f this article and subclause (C) f clause (vii) f subparagraph five f paragraph (b) f subdivisin ne f sectin fur hundred thirteen f the family curt act and withut subtracting spusal supprt paid pursuant t sectin fur hundred twelve f such act; and (b) incme frm incme-prducing prperty distributed r t be distributed pursuant t subdivisin five f this part. (4) Incme cap shall mean up t and including ne hundred seventyfive thusand dllars f the payr s annual incme; prvided, hwever, beginning January thirty-first, tw thusand sixteen and every tw years thereafter, the incme cap amunt shall increase by the sum f the average annual percentage changes in the cnsumer price index fr all urban cnsumers (CPI-U) as published by the United States department f labr bureau f labr statistics fr the prir tw years multiplied by the then incme cap and then runded t the nearest ne thusand dllars. The ffice f curt administratin shall determine and publish the incme cap. (5) Guideline amunt f pst-divrce maintenance shall mean the dllar amunt derived by the applicatin f paragraph c r d f this subdivisin. (6) Guideline duratin f pst-divrce maintenance shall mean the duratinal perid determined by the applicatin f paragraph f f this subdivisin. (7) Pst-divrce maintenance guideline bligatin shall mean the guideline amunt f pst-divrce maintenance and the guideline duratin f pst-divrce maintenance. 6

7 (8) Length f marriage shall mean the perid frm the date f marriage until the date f cmmencement f the actin. (9) Self-supprt reserve shall mean the self-supprt reserve as defined in the child supprt standards act and cdified in sectin tw hundred frty f this article and sectin fur hundred thirteen f the family curt act. (10) Agreement shall have the same meaning as prvided in subdivisin three f this part. c. Where the payr s incme is lwer than r equal t the incme cap, the curt shall determine the guideline amunt f pst-divrce maintenance as fllws: (1) Where child supprt will be paid fr children f the marriage and where the payr as defined in this subdivisin is als the nn-custdial parent pursuant t the child supprt standards act: (a) the curt shall subtract twenty-five percent f the payee s incme frm twenty percent f the payr s incme. (b) the curt shall then multiply the sum f the payr s incme and the payee s incme by frty percent. (c) the curt shall subtract the payee s incme frm the amunt derived frm clause (b) f this subparagraph. (d) the curt shall determine the lwer f the tw amunts derived by clauses (a) and (c) f this subparagraph. (e) the guideline amunt f pst-divrce maintenance shall be the amunt determined by clause (d) f this subparagraph except that, if the amunt determined by clause (d) f this subparagraph is less than r equal t zer, the guideline amunt f pst-divrce maintenance shall be zer dllars. (f) ntwithstanding the prvisins f this subdivisin, where the guideline amunt f pst-divrce maintenance wuld reduce the payr s incme belw the self-supprt reserve fr a single persn, the guideline amunt f pst-divrce maintenance shall be the difference between the payr s incme and the self-supprt reserve. If the payr s incme is belw the self-supprt reserve, there shall be a rebuttable presumptin that n pst-divrce maintenance is awarded. (g) maintenance shall be calculated prir t child supprt because the amunt f maintenance shall be subtracted frm the payr s incme and added t the payee s incme as part f the calculatin f the child supprt bligatin. 7

8 (2) Where child supprt will nt be paid fr children f the marriage, r where child supprt will be paid fr children f the marriage but the payr as defined in this subdivisin is the custdial parent pursuant t the child supprt standards act: (a) the curt shall subtract twenty percent f the payee s incme frm thirty percent f the payr s incme. (b) the curt shall then multiply the sum f the payr s incme and the payee s incme by frty percent. (c) the curt shall subtract the payee s incme frm the amunt derived frm clause (b) f this subparagraph. (d) the curt shall determine the lwer f the tw amunts derived by clauses (a) and (c) f this subparagraph. (e) the guideline amunt f pst-divrce maintenance shall be the amunt determined by clause (d) f this subparagraph except that, if the amunt determined by clause (d) f this subparagraph is less than r equal t zer, the guideline amunt f pst-divrce maintenance shall be zer dllars. (f) if child supprt will be paid fr children f the marriage but the payr as defined in this subdivisin is the custdial parent pursuant t the child supprt standards act, pst-divrce maintenance shall be calculated prir t child supprt because the amunt f pstdivrce maintenance shall be subtracted frm the payr s incme pursuant t this subdivisin and added t the payee s incme pursuant t this subdivisin as part f the calculatin f the child supprt bligatin. (g) ntwithstanding the prvisins f this subdivisin, where the guideline amunt f pst-divrce maintenance wuld reduce the payr s incme belw the self-supprt reserve fr a single persn, the guideline amunt f pst-divrce maintenance shall be the difference between the payr s incme and the self-supprt reserve. If the payr s incme is belw the self-supprt reserve, there shall be a rebuttable presumptin that n pst-divrce maintenance is awarded. d. Where the payr s incme exceeds the incme cap, the curt shall determine the guideline amunt f pst-divrce maintenance as fllws: (1) the curt shall perfrm the calculatins set frth in paragraph c f this subdivisin fr the incme f payr up t and including the incme cap; and (2) fr incme exceeding the cap, the amunt f additinal maintenance awarded, if any, shall be within the discretin f the curt which shall take 8

9 e. int cnsideratin any ne r mre f the factrs set frth in subparagraph ne f paragraph e f this subdivisin; and (3) the curt shall set frth the factrs it cnsidered and the reasns fr its decisin in writing r n the recrd. Such decisin, whether in writing r n the recrd, may nt be waived by either party r cunsel. (1) The curt shall rder the pst-divrce maintenance guideline bligatin up t the incme cap in accrdance with paragraph c f this subdivisin, unless the curt finds that the pst-divrce maintenance guideline bligatin is unjust r inapprpriate, which finding shall be based upn cnsideratin f any ne r mre f the fllwing factrs, and adjusts the pst-divrce maintenance guideline bligatin accrdingly based upn such cnsideratin: (a) the age and health f the parties; (b) the present r future earning capacity f the parties, including a histry f limited participatin in the wrkfrce; (c) the need f ne party t incur educatin r training expenses; (d) the terminatin f a child supprt award befre the terminatin f the maintenance award when the calculatin f maintenance was based upn child supprt being awarded which resulted in a maintenance award lwer than it wuld have been had child supprt nt been awarded; (e) the wasteful dissipatin f marital prperty, including transfers r encumbrances made in cntemplatin f a matrimnial actin withut fair cnsideratin; (f) the existence and duratin f a pre-marital jint husehld r a pre-divrce separate husehld; (g) acts by ne party against anther that have inhibited r cntinue t inhibit a party s earning capacity r ability t btain meaningful emplyment. Such acts include but are nt limited t acts f dmestic vilence as prvided in sectin fur hundred fiftynine-a f the scial services law; (h) the availability and cst f medical insurance fr the parties; (i) the care f children r stepchildren, disabled adult children r stepchildren, elderly parents r in-laws prvided during the marriage that inhibits a party s earning capacity; (j) the tax cnsequences t each party; (k) the standard f living f the parties established during the marriage; 9

10 (l) the reduced r lst earning capacity f the payee as a result f having frgne r delayed educatin, training, emplyment r career pprtunities during the marriage; (m) the equitable distributin f marital prperty and the incme r imputed incme n the assets s distributed; (n) the cntributins and services f the payee as a spuse, parent, wage earner and hmemaker and t the career r career ptential f the ther party; and () any ther factr which the curt shall expressly find t be just and prper. (2) Where the curt finds that the pst-divrce maintenance guideline bligatin is unjust r inapprpriate and the curt adjusts the pst-divrce maintenance guideline bligatin pursuant t this paragraph, the curt shall set frth, in a written decisin r n the recrd, the unadjusted pstdivrce maintenance guideline bligatin, the factrs it cnsidered, and the reasns that the curt adjusted the pst-divrce maintenance bligatin. Such decisin shall nt be waived by either party r cunsel. f. The duratin f pst-divrce maintenance may be determined as fllws: (1) The curt may determine the duratin f pst-divrce maintenance in accrdance with the fllwing advisry schedule: Length f the marriage marriage fr which maintenance will be payable 0 up t and including 15 years 15% - 30% Mre than 15 up t and including 20 years 30% - 40% Mre than 20 years 35% - 50% Percent f the length f the (2) In determining the duratin f pst-divrce maintenance, whether r nt the curt utilizes the advisry schedule, it shall cnsider the factrs listed in subparagraph ne f paragraph e f this subdivisin and shall set frth, in a written decisin r n the recrd, the factrs it cnsidered. Such decisin shall nt be waived by either party r cunsel. Nthing herein shall prevent the curt frm awarding nn-duratinal maintenance in an apprpriate case. 10

11 (3) Ntwithstanding the prvisins f subparagraph ne f this paragraph, pst-divrce maintenance shall terminate upn the death f either party r upn the payee s valid r invalid marriage, r upn mdificatin pursuant t paragraph b f subdivisin nine f this part r sectin tw hundred frty-eight f this article. (4) Ntwithstanding the prvisins f subparagraph ne f this paragraph, when determining duratin f pst-divrce maintenance, the curt shall take int cnsideratin anticipated retirement assets, benefits, and retirement eligibility age f bth parties if ascertainable at the time f decisin. If nt ascertainable at the time f decisin, the actual full r partial retirement f the payr with substantial diminutin f incme shall be a basis fr a mdificatin f the award. g. Where either r bth parties are unrepresented, the curt shall nt enter a maintenance rder r judgment unless the curt infrms the unrepresented party r parties f the pst-divrce maintenance guideline bligatin. h. Nthing cntained in this subdivisin shall be cnstrued t alter the rights f the parties t vluntarily enter int validly executed agreements r stipulatins which deviate frm the pst-divrce maintenance guideline bligatin. i. When a payr has defaulted and/r the curt makes a finding at the time f trial that it was presented with insufficient evidence t determine incme, the curt shall rder the pst-divrce maintenance based upn the needs f the payee r the standard f living f the parties prir t cmmencement f the divrce actin, whichever is greater. Such rder may be retractively mdified upward withut a shwing f change in circumstances upn a shwing f substantial newly discvered evidence. j. Pst-divrce maintenance may be mdified pursuant t paragraph b f subdivisin nine f this part. k. In any actin r prceeding fr mdificatin f an rder f maintenance r alimny existing prir t the effective date f the chapter f the laws f tw thusand fifteen which amended this subdivisin, brught pursuant t this article, the guidelines fr pst-divrce maintenance set frth in this subdivisin shall nt cnstitute a change f circumstances warranting mdificatin f such supprt rder. l. In any actin r prceeding fr mdificatin where the parties have entered int an agreement prviding fr maintenance pursuant t subdivisin three f this part entered int prir t the effective date f the chapter f the laws f tw thusand fifteen which amended this subdivisin, brught pursuant t this article, the guidelines fr pst-divrce maintenance set frth in this subdivisin shall nt cnstitute a change f circumstances warranting mdificatin f such agreement. 11

12 m. In any actin r prceeding fr mdificatin f an rder f maintenance r alimny existing prir t the effective date f the chapter f the laws f tw thusand fifteen which amended this subdivisin, brught pursuant t this article, the guidelines fr pst-divrce maintenance set frth in paragraphs c, d and e f this subdivisin shall nt apply. n. In any actin r prceeding fr mdificatin where the parties have entered int an agreement prviding fr maintenance pursuant t subdivisin three f this part entered int prir t the effective date f the chapter f the laws f tw thusand fifteen which amended this subdivisin, brught pursuant t this article, the guidelines fr pst-divrce maintenance set frth in paragraphs c, d and e f this subdivisin shall nt apply.. In any decisin made pursuant t this subdivisin the curt shall, where apprpriate, cnsider the effect f a barrier t remarriage, as defined in subdivisin six f sectin tw hundred fifty-three f this article, n the factrs enumerated in paragraph e f this subdivisin. 12