What Does Child Support Cover in the State of New Jersey?

There are few things more important to a parent than being able to raise their child. This is more complicated, naturally, when parents are divorced–especially financially. For this very reason, child support is in place to help financially dependent parents have the means to provide their child with an acceptable standard of living, even after the parents are divorced. Please continue reading and speak with our knowledgeable Bergen County family law attorneys to learn more about child support in New Jersey, what expenses it should cover, and how our firm can help you. Here are some of the questions you may have:

How is child support calculated in New Jersey?

There are various factors that courts will consider when determining a child support agreement. Though there are formal guidelines for child support in New Jersey, courts will also consider any additional factors that they deem relevant to your particular situation. Some of the factors NJ courts will consider when determining a child support agreement are as follows:

  • Both parents’ yearly salaries/income
  • Whether one or both parents have since remarried
  • The terms of your child custody agreement
  • The amount of time the non-custodial parent spends raising the child
  • The number of children involved, as well as the age of those children

What expenses are covered by child support payments in New Jersey?

Fortunately for many parents, child support can cover a wide range of expenses, and they can be broken down into three categories. They are controlled, variable, and fixed. Essentially, controlled expenses cover daily expenses, such as clothing, hygienic products, and scheduled activities. Variable expenses are daily expenses that the parent who is with the child at the time, including food, recreational activities, entertainment, and transportation. Finally, fixed expenses include rent, utilities, insurance payments, and mortgages–expenses that almost never change. So, in most cases, food and drink products, housing, clothing, unreimbursed medical and dental expenses (co-pays, healthcare products, etc.), and transportation (gas, car maintenance, public transportation, etc.) should be at least partially covered under child support payments. If you have any additional questions or you believe you are entitled to support payments, please do not hesitate to speak with our knowledgeable New Jersey family law attorneys today. We are 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.

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