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When Does Child Support End in NJ?
If you are a parent facing a divorce or an unmarried parent, you likely have questions concerning child support, especially whether you have to pay and how long this obligation will last. Please continue reading to learn what age child support ends in New Jersey and how a seasoned Ocean County Child Support Attorney can assist you during these complicated times.
Does Child Support End at 18 in NJ?
In many states, child support obligations are automatically terminated when the child turns 18 or otherwise reaches the age of emancipation. However, New Jersey is not among those states. Instead, the Garden State requires child support to continue until the age of 19, and in some cases, even beyond that. Child support can generally be extended past 19 under the following circumstances:
- The child is enrolled in a high school or another secondary educational program
- The child is enrolled in college or another post-secondary educational program as a full-time student
- The child has a mental or physical disability
If you believe your child has become financially independent before the age of 19, it’s possible to file a motion to officially emancipate them, thus ending your support obligation. It’s important to note that if back child support is owed when the child support terminates, you are still on the hook for paying off the arrears, and the order will still be enforced for the arrears. Additionally, a non-custodial parent can move to have a child support order ended if the child gets married, enlists in the armed forces, graduates from high school (doesn’t pursue higher education), or becomes emancipated. Keep in mind, that child support in New Jersey cannot be extended beyond the age of 23, except in cases of mental or physical disability.
What Are the Consequences of Failing to Pay?
Once the court orders a non-custodial parent to pay child support, it becomes a legally binding obligation. If your ex fails to fulfill their child support obligation it can lead to serious consequences. Before you request the court to intervene, you should reach out to your ex and figure out why they have failed to make their child support payments. It may be a simple misunderstanding. If they still refuse to pay, you can petition the court to enforce the payments. The court can take the following enforcement actions:
- Withholding of income
- Interception of tax refunds
- Suspension of licenses
- Suspension of passport renewal and application privileges
- Issuance of a bench warrant
- Credit reporting
- Seizure of assets (liens)
If your ex has failed to comply with their support obligation, please don’t hesitate to contact a competent attorney from the Law Office of Sarina Gianna, LLC, who can help you understand your rights and options. Connect with our firm today to learn more about how we can assist you.
