If you and your partner are expecting a child while unmarried or are separating, child support will likely be a consideration. You might decide to raise the child on your own, depending on your circumstances, and that could mean the need for financial assistance. One partner may be looking at support payments and both will probably want to figure out visitation. In New Jersey, whether you presume you will be a noncustodial or a custodial parent, to get a good grasp on child support calculation in NJ, speak to a New Jersey child support/family law attorney.
New Jersey Law
For their children, both parents must financially offer support, under New Jersey law. To take care of a child’s needs, their resources and income would be combined if the parents were married. Through child support, an attempt at mimicking that exact situation is made by the laws in New Jersey. To determine how much support will be paid to the custodial parent by the noncustodial parent, the court uses the combined net incomes of the parents.
What is a custodial parent? It is the father or mother who has physical custody of the children or child in question. Previously known as “visitation,” though they may have parenting time, the noncustodial parent doesn’t have actual physical child custody.
Child Support Calculation
Without going into the specifics of paperwork – which is best discussed with a family law attorney – here are the basics where the calculation of child support in New Jersey is concerned:
The average amount spent on the children by both parents is taken into account in the calculation or consideration of all awards. Included can be the following:
- Transportation
- Food
- Clothing
- Healthcare
- Transportation
- Housing, and more…
… Up to a specified dollar amount annually.
Based on the number of children in the family, and on the parents’ combined net weekly incomes, the calculation of a support amount is determined.
Though it can be, for visitation with the other parent, a child support award may not automatically be adjusted. A provision for a child spending time with both parents is included in many custody situations for unmarried or divorced parents. Based on a particular parenting worksheet, the court will calculate support appropriately. The more time a noncustodial parent spends with the child, the more likely the judge is to use calculations involving shared parenting.
But Wait, There’s More
Basic expenses for a child are considered in New Jersey’s child support guidelines. However, occasionally needing consideration are additional expenses that may be experienced by any number of families. Upon court approval, added to child support calculations can be additional expenses which are recurring and predictable. Some of these are as follows:
- Visitation transportation
- Health insurance and additional unreimbursed healthcare
- Work-related childcare
- Special needs
Prior to the determination of a final amount, these other expenses will be added to the calculation, once approved. In proportion to the income of the parents, they will be allocated.
Divorce, Visitation, Child Support Calculation And More…
Attorney Romanowski, at Romanowski Law Offices, is an experienced, knowledgeable, family law expert. When you’re unsure of what lies ahead in the divorce process, he can help with arrangements for parenting time, assist you in gaining custody, offer advice regarding child support calculations and requirements, and more.
If you’re facing divorce, don’t wait another moment – make an appointment today with New Jersey’s top family law attorney.
Curtis J. Romanowski, ESQ. is the author of the highly recognized treatise: Child Custody, Protection & Support (now in its Fifth Edition, and voted NJ Super Lawyer – Family Law, 2005-2021).