New Jersey Child Support Attorneys

Along with child custody, child support is an extremely contentious issue with which divorcing couples will inevitably be faced. Discussions involving money-related matters are often antagonistic even among couples that have the best of relationships. When couples have a strained relationship and are involved in divorce proceedings, discussions involving money can become quite argumentative and combative. This is especially true when the discussions involve the couple's children and how the children will be supported when the marital union is dissolved. In many cases, divorcing couples are unable to reach mutually agreeable child support settlements on their own. These couples usually require the assistance and expertise of an objective third party mediator or arbitrator such as a New Jersey child support lawyer. By retaining the services of an attorney, divorcing spouses can ensure their children are cared for properly and their rights and obligations as parents are protected.

How Child Support is Determined

In child support cases, one parent will be designated the custodial parent and the other the non-custodial parent. The custodial parent is the parent with which the child spends the majority of his or her time and with whom the child resides. The non-custodial parent will be responsible for paying child support to the custodial parent. The amount of child support to be paid will be based on the following factors:

• The income of both parents
• The number of children in the family
• The percentage of time the children are under the care of each parent

Parents should be aware that expenses such as mortgages, rent, and car payments are generally not included in child support calculations. The welfare of the child is the State of New Jersey's top priority; therefore, the parent's monthly expenses are not as important as the parents' income. It the right and obligation of every parent to provide their child with the financial assistance the child needs.

A New Jersey child support attorney can help parents ensure they receive adequate child support payments.

Making Child Support Payments

The State of New Jersey holds parents responsible for making court mandated child support payments. Failure to do so could result in consequences such as garnishment of wages. Parents that are unable to meet their child support payments need to contact a NJ child support lawyer for expert legal advice. Child support orders can be modified, and seeking a modification will be important for those parents unable to meet required child support payments.

Contacting a Child Support Attorney

Because child support can be a difficult issue for parents to resolve on their own, it will be important for parents to secure legal representation from an experience NJ child support attorney. An attorney will endeavor to make certain child support payments are both reasonable and adequate. Contacting an attorney prior to the issuance of a child support order is ideal, but attorneys can work with parents after-the-fact as well. For parents that need help with child support issues, consulting with a skilled NJ child support lawyer is highly recommended. For professional legal assistance with a child support case, contact the law offices of New Jersey child support attorney today.