FLEMINGTON — A hearing for John Waldorf has been moved to Thursday, Dec. 13, at about 11 a.m in Superior Court in Flemington. It was originally scheduled for Friday.

No reason was specified to the court administrator for the schedule change.

Waldorf has been in the county jail for nearly eight weeks on a “non-support” charge for allegedly failing to pay full alimony.

He claims he is a victim of New Jersey's "antiquated" alimony system and many people agree with him. In late October a small protest was held outside the courthouse.

Waldorf, 60, formerly of Lebanon Township, divorced his wife of 11 years in 2011 and was ordered to pay $2,000 a week in alimony to his ex. That amounts to $104,000 a year. In addition he was ordered to pay $3,300 in child support per year for his 16-year-old son.

The alimony payments are in addition to about $100,000 in legal fees incurred during the four-year-long divorce process.That process was a bitter one with the judge faulting both parties for difficulties, according to court transcripts. During proceedings the judge said she wrongfully accused him of hiding assets while he was less than cooperative about sharing information about debts. The judge also said John Waldorf was "willfully underemployed" for not seeking a better paying job so he could pay the ordered alimony.

In the court judgement, failing to make two consecutive full payments would result in a bench warrant for John Waldorf's arrest.

In a letter to the editor of the Hunterdon County Democrat, Waldorf said he has paid more than $400,000 to his wife over the last five years. As of last week, he was behind more than $52,000 according to the county jail's web site. Each week he owes another $2,000.

An engineer by trade, he was making about $6,200 a month, $1,800 less than what he was obligated to pay. The payments were being made through wage garnishment. Being in jail prevents him from working, which means there are no wages to be garnished.

It now also appears Waldorf has lost his job because of his current jailing. Meanwhile, Waldorf’s ex-wife, who is disabled, has been getting nothing, all while taxpayers are footing the bill to feed and house him as long as he remains in jail.

The story that appeared on NJ.com on Friday, Dec. 7, garnered more than 800 comments in four days. The vast majority agree that alimony reform is needed. Many, both men and women, shared similar stories of being ordered to pay more than they could.

Waldorf's case has become emblematic in some eyes for the need for alimony reform. His story was discussed this morning on NJ 101.5 radio.

In January, bills were introduced in the state Senate and Assembly that would amend the law allowing the court to modify alimony and child support payments based upon changed circumstances, such as unemployment, temporary disability or similar circumstances for a period lasting longer than six months. Changes would not be made if court determines the change in circumstance was deliberate on behalf of the payee in an attempt to evade the support obligation or no reasonable efforts were made to get a new job.

In February the bills were voted out of committee. The senate version was referred to a second committee. No action has been taken by either body since then.

Other bills are pending that would create a commission to study alimony reform.

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