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When Does Child Support End in New Jersey?
When a divorcing couple has children, they are required to determine new arrangements for their future. This can include custody and child support. Courts in the state of New Jersey stress the involvement of both parents in their child’s life. This requires both parents to financially support their child even after a divorce, regardless of the custody situation. Child support payments make this possible, as they are made from one parent to another. This ensures the child maintains the same standard of living they were used to before the divorce.
A judge determines child support payments by following the New Jersey Child Support Guidelines. This system exists to calculate the living expenses of the child with the family’s income. In addition to this, it takes several factors relating to the parents’ financial status into consideration. This can include their work history, earning capacity, the needs of the child, the cost of providing for the child, and more. This allows a judge to determine a fair conclusion for payments based on what the parents can provide for their child.
Age of Emancipation
The custodial parent is the individual who is awarded physical custody of their child. Because the child lives with this parent the majority of the time, they are required to provide the child with a stable life. This includes a home, food, clothing, an education, and more. This can become expenses for one parent to handle on their own, which is why the non-custodial parent must financially assist the child as well. These payments are required by the court to be paid until a child is emancipated. In the state of New Jersey, the age of emancipation is usually 19 years old.
While this is true, every family is different from one another. It is because of this that every child support case is handled differently. This is why support payments do not always end when a child is 19 years old. There are cases in which courts will make an exception and extend support payments for a child. This can be seen in the event that a child wishes to pursue college or trade school. When this happens, support payments may not end until their education is over, requiring parents to continue providing for their child until they can to do so themselves. It is also possible for child support payments can also end early. If a parent believes their child can support themselves, they can petition the court to emancipate them. Once a child is emancipated, child support payments can be terminated.
Contact our Firm
Matters of divorce and family law require the attention and skill of an experienced attorney who will fight for your future. If you need a divorce and family law attorney in Ocean County, New Jersey, contact the Law Office of Sarina Gianna, LLC today to schedule a consultation.
