In a Decision – Friel v. Braun-Friel, (an Unpublished Opinion) >> the Court Held:
The Appellate Division reversed and remanded the Family Part decision awarding 2 years alimony even though parties had separated less than three years into their marriage, with plaintiff filing a divorce complaint one year after separation and the trial court entering the final judgment 18 months later. Defendant is disabled. The Trial Court had denied an Open Duration Alimony ( the alimony statute, absent exceptional circumstances, limits alimony to the length of the marriage) but the Appellate Division reversed that Decision based upon the Trial Court’s failure to explain its reasoning.
The Appellate Division was unable to discern why the court did not adjust the duration of alimony despite defendant establishing exceptional circumstances. Although the statute does not mandate an adjustment, a trial court must provide its reasons for not doing so.