New Jersey child support is calculated first using a rigid system of factors. Every child support action will be considered according to the same criteria. Sometimes, the court may decide that the consideration of additional factors is applicable to an individual case. The guidelines are contained in Rule 5:6A, available from the New Jersey Courts.
This page contains some background information about how child support is calculated in New Jersey, but many people find talking to a lawyer a better way to understand how the rules apply in their case. Experienced Jersey City family law attorney Anthony Carbone can help you understand your legal rights and protect the best interests of your children; please call the Law Offices of Anthony Carbone at 201-963-6000 to arrange your complimentary consultation.
Basics of the New Jersey Child Support Guidelines
The New Jersey Child Support Guidelines are based on a number of assumptions about the proper way to raise children and the roles of parents in their children. Among these assumptions are many that point out that the cost of raising children varies greatly among families, and that as income increases parents should and do spend more on raising their children.
The guidelines also assume that the intact family is the basic model for the proper amount of spending on a child. The goal is also to approximate the standard of living that children enjoyed before the divorce, although it is recognized that this is not always possible. Child support awards may be adjusted according to the child custody arrangement, including the amount of time noncustodial parents spend with their children.
Child support is intended to be used for:
- Housing
- Food
- Clothing
- Transportation
- Health care
- Entertainment
- Education, personal care, and other miscellaneous expenses
However, other expenses may be authorized to be included in child support by the court.
Determining Fair Child Support
New Jersey child support is intended to be a fair award that puts the welfare of children first, but does not injure the parents or children the divorced couple may have with other partners. To ensure the fairness of any award, it’s important that both parents give an accurate account of:
- Income
- Assets
- Expenses
- Time spent with children
- Noncompliance with the parenting plan
These aspects of child support are variable, changing from time to time. If you become aware of changes that have not been reflected in the child support you receive or are being asked to pay, it’s time to talk to a family lawyer about getting appropriate adjustments.
To talk to a family lawyer in the greater Jersey City or Newark, New Jersey, areas about divorce or child support award, please contact the Law Offices of Anthony Carbone, PC today to schedule your confidential consultation.
