Divorce is usually a straightforward process between the two spouses. However, things tend to become especially difficult when the former couple has children that need to be taken care of. Things are no different for celebrities. According to an article from CNN, Halle Berry has recently been ordered to pay child support:
“The Oscar-winning actress has to pay over $16,000 in child support each month to her ex, Gabriel Aubry, to provide for their 6-year-old daughter Nahla, the Los Angeles Superior Court ordered.
ex:Berry’s monthly bill will remain in effect until Nahla turns 19 or graduates high school, whichever occurs first, according to court documents obtained by CNN. The settlement came on May 30, at the end of lengthy child support legal battle.
The court also ordered Berry to pay $115,000 retroactively in child support, as well as to cover her ex-boyfriend’s legal fees, which amount to $300,000. The “X-Men: Days of Future Past” star is fully responsible for Nahla’s tuition, while both parents will divide health care costs.”
In New Jersey, the law requires both parents to support their children. To determine child support payments, the courts rely on the “Income Shares Model”. The simplest way to understand this is that the court will pool together the finances of both you and your former spouse and use the total amount to compute the child support payment. Of course, the spouse who earns more is required to pay a larger share than the other spouse.
Typically, you will have to continue paying the determined amount of child support until your child turns 18, unless the judge rules otherwise. However, there are certain situations where you may apply for a modification and lower the amount you tender each month, including: long-lasting unemployment, serious illness, or a change in child custody or visitation schedules. If any of the previously mentioned circumstances happen, speak to trusted NJ divorce lawyers to see if you can apply for a modification.
Child support is as complicated as it sounds; as such, you should never tackle the matter alone. If you require help in determining or modifying your child support payments, be sure to consult an experienced NJ divorce attorney like Curtis J. Romanowski, Esq.
(Source: Halle Berry to pay $16,000 a month in child support; CNN; June 10, 2014)