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Child Support FAQ | What to Know
When it comes to child support, people often have a lot of questions. Below are some of the most common questions asked about child support in New Jersey. Read on to learn more.
How is child support determined in New Jersey?
Child support is incredibly important to the well-being of a child. As a result, New Jersey courts will calculate it very carefully. To do so, they may examine some of the following factors:
- Whether your child is currently employed and has a steady income
- What your family’s standard of living has been before the divorce
- You and your spouse’s economic circumstances
- Your child’s needs
- The age and health of both you and your spouse
- The number of children currently living in your household
- You and your spouse’s earning capacity, as well as your education
- Any additional factors that New Jersey courts deem relevant to your specific case
What should I do if my ex refuses to pay child support?
If your ex has been legally ordered to pay child support and is not doing so, your first option may be reaching out to the Office of Child Support Services. Keep in mind that even if you do not receive child support through OCSS, you may still contact them if your spouse is not making child support payments. If OCSS acknowledges that your child support payments are more than two weeks overdue, they will then work to enforce your agreement. Additionally, you can reach out to a family law attorney to discuss your options.
Can I modify child support in New Jersey?
Child support can be modified to increase or decrease, depending on the circumstances. In order to modify child support, you must demonstrate to the court that your circumstances have changed both significantly and for the foreseeable future. Some circumstances that may constitute a child support modification can include the following:
- One parent has lost their home
- One parent has contracted a serious illness or sustained a serious injury
- Their child has sustained a serious injury or contracted a medical condition
- One parent recently took a significant pay cut or lost their job
- There has been a change in federal income tax laws
- One parent is now living with another person/has remarried
- One parent has received a job promotion or has come into a large sum of money, via an inheritance or otherwise
When can I stop paying child support in New Jersey?
In many cases, children are formally emancipated from child support payments in New Jersey upon their 19th birthday. However, under certain circumstances, parents can request an extension on their child support payments even after their child turns 19. If your child is looking to attend college or pursue higher education, you can request that the courts extend his/her child support payments until he/she turns 23 years old. These numbers are not set in stone and can change depending upon your circumstances.
If you have any additional questions or concerns regarding child support in New Jersey, contact our firm today to discuss with an experienced and knowledgeable family law attorney.
Contact our experienced Ocean City firm
Matters of divorce and family law require the attention and skill of an experienced attorney who will fight for your future. Not only is your financial well-being at stake, but in a divorce, both you and your children’s emotional well-being are at risk as well. If you need a divorce and family law attorney in Ocean County, New Jersey, please do not hesitate to contact the Law Office of Sarina Gianna, LLC today to schedule a consultation.
