Through the Department of Human Services, New Jersey offers help for obtaining and modifying child support. Parents can estimate their child support obligation or income upon divorce by using the tools on this site. A judge, however, sets the final amount after considering all of the circumstances pertaining to the divorce petition.

To determine child support payments, the total amount needed to support the child is calculated and divided between the parents. Parents are required to fill out either the Sole Parenting Worksheet or the Shared Parenting Worksheet, depending on the situation.

In addition to calculating each parent’s income, the department considers additional costs to one parent, such as private school tuition, transportation, programs for special needs or gifted children, and healthcare costs.

New Jersey’s system also helps parents:

Locate an absent parent
Determine paternity
Enforce child support orders
The court can order a modification in support payments if one parent can prove material and ongoing changes in personal circumstances. In most cases, the state’s child support guidelines only apply to children under the age of 18. While there is no specific rule stating that child support ends at 18, the state’s office only has the authority and resources to enforce support orders for minor children. In some cases, a judge might order a parent to share the cost of college tuition, particularly if the student is commuting to school.

The divorce attorneys at Murano & Roth, LLC can help you structure and implement your divorce agreement, no matter how complex. Call our Oradell, New Jersey office at 201.265.3400 or contact us online.

This blog posting and the information on our website is for general information purposes only. Nothing within it, within any responses, comments, emails, answers, blogs or attachments, should be considered legal advice. Our website and our blogs, including this blog, does not form any attorney client relationship, and this office does not represent you in any way. Keep in mind that since only very general information is provided on our website and within our blogs, you cannot rely upon any of the information as legal advice, as it might not apply to, or be accurate relative to your specific situation and facts.

By Jason D. Roth