Alimony Reform: Fair Laws for the 21st Century

Event to be Held June 9th at Rutgers University

PISCATAWAY, N.J., June 4, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- New Jersey Alimony Reform, a grassroots association advocating for changes to alimony laws, is holding a first of its kind conference on June 9th entitled "Alimony Reform: Fair Laws for the 21st Century." The event brings together activists from Massachusetts, Connecticut, Florida, and New Jersey to discuss the changing views about permanent alimony in today's society and the role of concerned citizens in shaping public policy.

"These laws are harsh enough to bankrupt alimony payers and send them to jail," said Tom Leustek, president of NJ Alimony Reform. "Our objective is to bring alimony laws out of the 1950s, when men were the breadwinners, women were housewives, and Father Knows Best played on black and white televisions."

While most states revised their laws as society changed, as Massachusetts did late last year, many others like New Jersey hold stubbornly onto antiquated laws. A clear indication of the urgent need for reform is the apparent inability of family courts to deal with the consequences of the recent economic downturn.  After losing jobs and being unable to pay their court-ordered alimony, victims of these draconian laws have been repeatedly jailed and abused by the courts. One person reports that he is in such despair, having to submit to strip and cavity searches each night when he returns to the Bergen County jail, that he is unable to focus on work during the day. He describes his life as a futile "hamster wheel" from which there is no escape or relief from the court. "We need to ask ourselves whether such treatment is fair in today's world," says Leustek.

Luckily, NJ legislators are moving to reconsider alimony laws. Several bills are now pending in Trenton and concerned citizens are watching closely for substantive change. "Now is the perfect time for us to review the need for reform in light of other states that have passed alimony reform legislation or are currently undergoing the same process as in NJ," says Leustek.

Alimony Reform: Fair Laws for the 21st Century will be held at the Rutgers University Busch Campus Center, from 12 noon to 4:30 pm. See http://njalimonyreform.org/confReg.php for registration and event details. The conference speakers include:

Sean Kean, Assemblyman Monmouth County & sponsor of alimony reform bills, Progress on Bills To Reform Alimony in NJ

Keynote Speaker Steve Hitner, President of Massachusetts Alimony Reform & member of the Massachusetts Joint Alimony Task Force, The History of Alimony Reform in Massachusetts

Alan Frisher, Co-Director of Florida Alimony Reform (FAR), The Challenges of Reforming Alimony Laws in Florida

Richard Stokes, Legislative Liaison for NJ Alimony Reform & Trenton Lobbyist, The Legislative Process in New Jersey

Elizabeth Benedict, Author & Alimony Reform Advocate, Alimony Reform in Connecticut and Beyond        

Contact: Tom Leustek
908-866-6527

SOURCE New Jersey Alimony Reform