If you are divorcing with minor children in New Jersey, one of the most critical issues you will have to confront is child support. New Jersey courts recognize that children shouldn’t have to suffer economically because their parents are getting divorced. As such, the court may require a non-custodial parent to provide financial assistance for their child’s necessities. The amount of child support a non-custodial may be required to pay is influenced by several factors, including parenting time. Please continue reading to learn how custodial time can impact child support amounts in New Jersey and why it’s in your best interest to connect with our determined Monmouth County Child Support Attorneys.
How is Child Support Determined in NJ?
In New Jersey, parents are obligated to support their children until the age of emancipation and sometimes even beyond that. Divorcing parents with minor children must address child support unless they have come to a fair agreement outside of court. If parents cannot agree on child support, the court will be responsible for determining the appropriate level of support. Child support is calculated using the New Jersey Child Support Guidelines, which considers several factors, including the income of both parents, the number of children involved, and the parenting time arrangement. This formula provides a consistent and fair assessment of child support amounts. The guidelines ensure the child’s needs are adequately met following a divorce or separation while considering the financial circumstances of both parents. Nevertheless, the court may deviate from the standard calculation.
What is the Link Between Parenting Time and Child Support in NJ?
Although the New Jersey Child Support Guidelines offer a standardized approach for calculating child support, there are instances in which circumstances warrant deviations. For example, parenting time, which refers to the amount of time each parent spends with their children following a divorce, is a factor that may result in adjustments to a child support obligation.
It’s important to understand that parenting time is crucial in determining child support obligations because it directly affects each parent’s financial responsibility. Generally, the parent with more parenting time will likely incur more expenses related to their children’s daily needs, including food, housing, clothing, education, and healthcare. As such, to ensure parents contribute proportionally to these expenses, they will adjust a child support obligation to reflect this. However, when a non-custodial parent is granted significant parenting time, they may incur additional fees related to their child’s care. This can affect transportation costs and extracurricular activities. In such cases, the non-custodial parent may be reduced to reflect their financial contributions during parenting time.
Nevertheless, parenting time is not the sole factor in determining child support amounts. The court considers various factors to ensure a child’s best interests are met and that the child enjoys the standard of living they would have enjoyed if their parents had stayed together.
If you have any questions concerning your child support obligation, please don’t hesitate to contact a dedicated attorney from the legal team at Paone Zaleski & Murphy, who can help you navigate this complex matter.
