If you’re going through a divorce with children, regardless of whether you’ll be receiving or entitled to provide child support, you’re probably wondering what exactly those payments are meant to cover. When you’re married, you and your spouse share childcare responsibilities. The court believes that even after a couple splits, their child deserves to receive the same financial support they would have received if their parents still lived in the same household. Therefore, the court will order the non-custodial parent to provide child support to the custodial parent to cover the child’s necessities. If you’re a working parent, daycare costs may be a primary financial concern. Please continue reading to learn whether daycare is included in child support in New Jersey and how our dedicated Monmouth County Child Support Attorneys can help you fight for the financial support your family deserves.
What Does Child Support Include in New Jersey?
Firstly, child support payments are based on several different factors. The New Jersey court system follows New Jersey’s Child Support Guidelines to ensure children get the financial support they need and deserve. It also uses a standardized formula for determining child support. These guidelines take many facets of your family’s life into consideration to ensure the best interests of your child are met:
- The age and health of each parent
- The earning capacity of each parent
- The standard of living
- The division of parenting time
- The child’s particular needs
- The costs of childcare
- Any existing child support obligations from prior children
The above-listed factors are considered when developing a child support amount to ensure a child benefits from the same financial support they would have benefited from if their parents had stayed together. That said, it’s crucial to understand what the payments are intended to cover. In New Jersey, a basic child support payment is intended to cover the following expenses:
- Housing
- Food
- Clothing
- Healthcare
- Transportation
- Entertainment and extracurriculars
However, depending on the circumstances, your child support order can include other expenses like education, health insurance, costs associated with special needs, or work-related childcare to ensure the child’s best interests.
How Can I Make Sure That Daycare Costs Are Included In Child Support Calculations?
In New Jersey, the court system believes that children should benefit from the equal involvement of both parents, which includes both parents financially contributing to their healthy development. Therefore, daycare costs can be included in child support as long as it is work-related. Work-related childcare means that the child is temporarily placed into the care of another for the parent to work and earn a living.
For more information about New Jersey child support, please don’t hesitate to contact an adept attorney from the legal team at Paone Zaleski & Murphy. We are prepared to help you fight for work-related childcare to be included in your child support award.
