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Child support and family law in New Jersey can be confusing without the right guidance. With so many issues to sort through during a divorce, often issues pertaining to children are the first ones that come to mind. Although child custody and support plans may be agreed upon at the time, modifications may need to be made in the future.
What Is Child Support?
Divorce creates significant life changes for everyone involved. One household is split into two, which means there are now separate incomes. To ensure that children are financially taken care of, child support is paid by the non-custodial parent to help with the cost of raising a child.
The state of New Jersey calculates how much is paid by the non-custodial parent by following a specific formula. Some of the factors that courts use to determine how much child support is required include:
Both parent’s income
The cost of daycare or afterschool care
Social Security benefits
Who the child is living with
Medical insurance costs
Any other factor the court deems relevant
Child Support Orders in New Jersey
Since both parents have an obligation to support their children after a divorce, legal issues can arise. According to the New Jersey child support guidelines, gross income, and other factors can determine how support is handled.
Some of the expenses in a child support order include:
Money for food, clothing, and shelter
Visitation or traveling costs depending on where each parent lives and the circumstance
School supplies and adequate transportation
Certain medical expenses
Can Child Support Be Modified?
Either parent can request that the child support be modified if they cannot afford to pay for everything that is owed. “Changed circumstances” is a legal definition that means significant and unanticipated life changes that make it nearly impossible to pay child support obligations.
If you are concerned about obtaining and enforcing child support payments, or your ability to pay child support, our New Jersey child support attorneys can help you sort through the specifics of your case to ensure your children’s rights are being protected. At DeTommaso Law Group, LLC, we have successfully guided many clients with child support orders in Somerset, Morris, Middlesex, Hunterdon, and other counties in New Jersey.
Call our dedicated child support lawyers today at (908) 274-3028 to set up an appointment with our team today.