Child Support: We Help Negotiate What's Fair, so You Can Move Forward
By Tanya L. Freeman, Attorney at Law
You want the best for your child(ren). To feel safe and secure, children need and are legally entitled to financial support from both parents to cover food, clothing, housing, medical care, education, and other expenses. Determining the child support responsibility of each parent depends on many factors, and the child support agreements protect each parent’s rights and are customized to reflect individual capabilities.
Life is complex. Family and financial situations are always evolving. Tanya L. Freeman, Attorney at Law takes into consideration the unique needs of parents and children to negotiate fair and reasonable child support agreements that
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Keep children in the life they are accustomed to
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Protect children from financial harm in the case of parental disputes
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Provide children the support they need to grow into happy and healthy adults
You and your child(ren) can thrive even after a marriage or relationship ends. You have rights as parents, and your well-being is protected under the law, just like your children’s. The Law Office of Tanya L. Freeman can help you navigate:
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Receiving orders to pay child support
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Establishing child support claims to help care for children
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Submitting modification applications when a parent’s financial situation or other circumstances about the children significantly change
Tanya L. Freeman, Attorney at Law wants the best for your and your children’s future. Our approach analyzes every aspect of a parent and child’s life to create a fair and nurturing path forward.
Looking for a Child Support Lawyer?
Learn about Child Support in New Jersey
An experienced and strategic child support lawyer can protect your rights when faced with child support issues. New Jersey child support lawyer Tanya L. Freeman, Attorney at Law, represents parents ordered to pay child support and those who need to establish it to help care for their children. Additionally, she assists clients with modifications when their financial situation or other circumstances about the children dramatically change. In addition, she advises parents on enforcing child support orders. Finally, she helps parents who are going through a divorce. Contact Tanya L. Freeman, Attorney at Law, the New Jersey child support lawyer, today to schedule a complimentary consultation.
Everything You Should Know About Child Support in New Jersey
What is the Purpose of Child Support?
Child support is designed to make sure that your children can enjoy happy, healthy lives now and in the future. Child support goes right to the core of what parenting is all about taking care of your children by providing for their needs, regardless of which parent they may be living with at the time. When both parents adopt this philosophy of prioritizing their children, deciding child support can end up being a surprisingly joyful experience for everyone involved. We also recognize that some parents struggle because they feel they are paying too much in child support, while other parents struggle because they feel they are receiving too little. Child support is a child’s right in New Jersey. This means that as parents, whether married or not, we are required by law to provide for our children until they become adults.
How Child Support is Calculated in New Jersey
In New Jersey, there is a basic child support allocation amount that must be used as a starting point when calculating child support for each specific instance. This base child support figure accounts for the percentage of the couple’s combined income that each parent brings in before adjusting for additional considerations like how much time the child spends with each parent. The courts have established standards to help in the calculation of child support because the process can be challenging.
The New Jersey Child Support Guidelines, which are outlined in New Jersey Court Rule 5:6A and Appendix IX, create a system that, for the majority of New Jersey parents, results in an accurate base computation of child support payments. A table of basic support payments is included in Appendix IX and is based on the number of children in a family and the parents’ combined weekly net income.
When adjusting for parental time, the Guidelines consider three main types of expenses. These consist of:
Fixed Expenses. These include primarily housing expenses, such as rent or mortgage payments and utility bills;
Controlled Expenses: These include goods and services like clothing, personal care items, most entertainment, and other miscellaneous items; and
Variable Expenses: The parent the child is presently staying with is responsible for paying expenses like meals, transportation, and sporadic entertainment.
Calculating Sole Parenting and Shared Parenting Child Support
The precise parenting plan that the parents have agreed upon or that the court has ordered will determine which categories of expenses will be changed in the Guideline formula and by how much. The proper worksheet to use in each child support case is determined by the parenting plan’s parenting time allocation. The Guidelines contain both a sole parenting worksheet and a shared parenting worksheet. When children spend no more than two overnights per week with the noncustodial parent, a sole parenting child support calculation is typically suitable; if children spend more than two overnights per week with each parent, a shared parenting child support calculation is typically acceptable.
The sole parenting computation takes into account the variable costs incurred by the noncustodial parent during visitation times. The calculations for child support under shared parenting account for both variable and fixed costs. Both spreadsheets allow for modifications to account for extra costs such as those for children’s health insurance, any special expenses, and any more essential work-related child care costs. Either parent may ask for an exemption if the worksheet calculations are incorrect in any circumstance. For instance, parents who equally divide their time might ask for adjustments to controlled expenses as well as variable and fixed costs.
Calculating the Correct Amount of Child Support
The standards and calculations for child support in New Jersey are intricate, making it difficult to determine an exact amount. Additionally, there are numerous situations that warrant modifying the equations used to develop the Guidelines. Visit our FAQ area for more information on following the Guidelines: In New Jersey, how is child support determined?
In situations where the Guideline formula is insufficient, New Jersey child support is controlled by state statutes and any relevant case law. Making sure that child support is calculated correctly is a crucial part of making sure that you and your children are financially safeguarded.
Child Support Modifications
When a child’s needs change, it may be necessary to modify or alter the child support order. The revised order must reflect the new needs of the child. Child support is, by definition, made to take care of the child’s necessities. These demands comprise, but are not restricted to, food, clothing, shelter, health care, and education.
The amount of child support may need to be adjusted if a parent’s financial condition or the needs of the child change. In these situations, the parties involved may agree to change the current New Jersey child support order themselves, or the court may issue a formal order.
When to Request a Modification to New Jersey Child Support
Child support can be modified based on changed circumstances. Either the parents’ financial condition has changed or the child’s needs have changed substantially.
Modification applications must be filed with the Superior Court by the parent who is asking for the change. Having legal counsel at this phase of the process can help ensure that the needs of the child is satisfied.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Child Support Law in New Jersey?
Child support refers to how much money a child requires to cover daily costs. When a divorce causes a child to not reside with both parents equally, the court may ask the spouse with more income to pay child support. You can negotiate child support with your partner if you don’t want the court’s help.
Is it Essential to Hire a Child Support Lawyer in NJ?
You likely have a lot involved in your child’s child support arrangement since parents always want what is best for their children. We strongly advise working with a child support attorney like Tanya L. Freeman, Attorney At Law, who will help you decide what is financially best for you and your child.
What Are the Repercussions of Unpaid Child Support?
Unpaid child support may have repercussions, such as late weekly fines that pile up and force you into further legal action due to your mounting debt. You don’t want unpaid child support to begin to accumulate.
Additionally, failure to pay child support may lead to long-lasting legal consequences. Your income may be withheld, your license may be suspended, you may encounter issues with judgments prohibiting the sale of your property, your credit rating may be affected, a redirected tax refund may be issued, and your assets may be seized. Further, an arrest warrant could be issued if you don’t attend court, leading to jail time. Work with a child support attorney to ensure you present the most robust case for yourself and your financial future to prevent unfavorable outcomes.
How Long Does Child Support in New Jersey Last?
When a child reaches the age of emancipation, child support may be terminated. The age of emancipation in New Jersey is normally 19 years old.
Your Experienced New Jersey Child Support Lawyer
Child support is a critical aspect of ensuring that children receive the care and support they need to thrive. It’s a legal obligation that both parents have to contribute financially to their child’s upbringing. When parents work together and prioritize their child’s well-being, they can create a stable and supportive environment that fosters growth and development.
Tanya L. Freeman, Attorney At Law in New Jersey, is happy to give you thorough, in-depth information on the child support concerns that are significant to you. Contact us for a free consultation if you require additional assistance with any of these issues or family law conflicts.
Looking for a Child Support Law Firm?
Call Tanya L. Freeman, Attorney at Law
at (973) 939-0100
Tanya L. Freeman, Attorney at Law
100 Eagle Rock Avenue, Suite 105
East Hanover, New Jersey 07936
(973) 939-0100
Connect with Us
- (973) 939-0100
- tfreeman@callagylaw.com
- 100 Eagle Rock Ave. Suite 105 East Hanover, NJ 07936