If you are a parent who currently pays child support, though you do not have visitation rights, you may be wondering whether you are still required to make regular child support payments. Please continue reading and speak with our New Jersey family law attorneys to learn more about child support and whether you are required to pay it if you do not have visitation rights. Here are some of the questions you may have:
How is child support determined in New Jersey?
New Jersey courts take various factors into consideration when determining child support in New Jersey. In most cases, if one spouse was financially dependent during the marriage, and that spouse has custody of the child, he or she will most likely be awarded child support. You should understand that when it comes to divorce and family law matters, they will always be decided in favor of the child’s best interests, which means that if a court determines that it is in your child’s best interests to pay child support, then you will have to pay child support. Likewise, if the court determines that it is in your child’s best interest to award sole custody to his or her other parent, they will do so.
Do I have to pay child support if I do not have visitation rights in New Jersey?
Child support is not dependent on child custody. This means that even if your former spouse has sole custody of your child, and you also do not have visitation rights to see your child, you will still have to pay child support. New Jersey courts are of the mind that regardless of whether you are a part of raising your child, you still have the responsibility to financially support your child. That being said, child support agreements can be modified under certain circumstances, regardless of your custodial state. For example, if your child reaches a certain age, you may request child support to be terminated. Additionally, if you can prove that your child is financially independent, you may request child support to be terminated, among other circumstances. If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to speak with our experienced New Jersey family law attorneys today. We are always here to help.
Contact our experienced Bergen County firm
At Townsend, Tomaio & Newmark, our attorneys have extensive experience helping clients to understand and protect their legal rights before, during, and after the divorce process in towns across New Jersey and Bergen County, including Hackensack, Ridgewood, Paramus, Teaneck, and Fort Lee. To speak with our team of divorce lawyers today in a free and confidential consultation regarding your concerns about your divorce, please contact us online, or through our Hackensack, NJ office at (201) 397-1750.
