Gloucester County Child Support Lawyer Located in Woodbury, NJ
Experienced Woodbury Child Support Attorneys Help Parents Resolve Child Support Matters in Gloucester County and Throughout South Jersey
Having kids is expensive! When your relationship ends, naturally your thoughts turn to questions such as: “How much money will I get in child support?” or “How much am I going to have to pay?” This is another situation where talking to friends, family or the mailman isn’t in your best interests.
Saving this conversation for your legal team at Smedley Law Group will reduce your anxiety (we’ve all heard horror stories of paying a small mint or receiving a pittance) and provide you with some clarity regarding your unique financial situation. We’ll advise you as to what is and isn’t covered by the New Jersey Child Support Guidelines as well as discuss non-traditional alternatives that may work for you and your family.
One thing you need to know is that in most cases, you can only establish or modify a child support obligation from the time you ask for it, so waiting to talk to us about your situation can cost you big time. Therefore, if your circumstances change from what they were at the time your original obligation was entered, you need to speak with our team so we can guide you in the right direction so you and your family are protected.
Child Support Attorneys at Smedley Law Group Work Tirelessly to Protect Your Family’s Rights and Interests
Income change? Parenting time change or your Order not being followed? Cost of insuring the kids change? One of your children starts attending college or may be emancipated? These are all situations that may warrant a review of your child support obligation. That’s why scheduling a consultation with Smedley Law Group is critical to ensuring you can take the appropriate steps for you and your children.
“My child turned 18, fantastic! That means I can stop paying child support now, right?” Wrong. Unlike our neighbor states of Pennsylvania and Delaware, New Jersey is different. While there’s a presumption in New Jersey that a child is emancipated upon turning 18 years old, that presumption is rebuttable by demonstrating that the child in question hasn’t moved beyond the sphere of influence of his or her parents. We recommend that when your child is in his or her senior year in high school you have a “check-up” on your current situation so we can properly analyze your situation, determine what course of action is appropriate given your child’s status at that time, and plan for the future accordingly.
No one likes surprises, and meeting with us can provide you with the clarity you need regarding your current situation, determine what problems need to be addressed in the immediate future, allowing you time to plan for your family’s future.
Understanding New Jersey’s Child Support Guidelines
Establishing an initial child support arrangement begins with understanding New Jersey’s child support guidelines. Like many other states, New Jersey uses a formulaic approach based on income and related to support levels set by the state.
In other words, child support obligations under the Income Shares Model, called the Child Support Guidelines in New Jersey, are calculated based on an amount that the courts determine a child would receive if the parents still lived together. The primary considerations are:
- Each parent’s income levels
- How much time each parent spends with the child (including where the child primarily lives).
The basic child support obligation gets adjusted to account for each parent’s fixed expenses based on percentages set by the state. This can include things like rent or mortgage payments and utility costs. Both controlled expenses and variable expenses are also taken into account. These expenses include things like clothing, entertainment, and other miscellaneous expenses.
Child support obligations can also be adjusted for expenses such as:
- Healthcare costs
- School tuition
- Work-related childcare needs
In most cases, the non-custodial parent will have a greater child support obligation because the custodial parent bears the expense of providing for the child’s housing needs.
Calculating child support obligations can be extremely complicated. Having one of our experienced family law attorneys by your side means you can rest assured that you and your child are economically protected.
Our Skilled Child Support Attorneys in Woodbury, NJ Can Help With Complications That Arise in Child Support Arrangements
A child support arrangement is rarely an agreement that remains set in stone. Like any other aspect of your life, the financial circumstances of both you and your child’s other parent may change over time. Your child continues to have the right to be fairly supported economically.
Our experienced family law attorneys at Smedley Law Group can help you resolve any complexities that arise in your child support arrangement. Those might include:
- Circumstances where your child’s other parent is voluntarily unemployed
- How to account for the unearned income of one or both parents
- Handling circumstances where the investment performance of one parent’s assets changes
- Considering the impact that a new child born of a second marriage can have on a parent’s financial position
- Handling cost-of-living increases.
As with any matter involving children, the best interests of your child is paramount. Despite this, we know that you’re human too. Every parent can only provide for their children to the best of their abilities.
Our experienced family law attorneys are here to fight to protect your rights—and the rights of your children. If you need help modifying or enforcing an existing order, or want to make sure your child’s other parent is paying their fair share, call us today to schedule a consultation. We can help you understand New Jersey child support laws and work to reach an agreement that protects your economic security.
Call to Request a Consultation With Our Reputable Woodbury Child Support Lawyers Today
At Smedley Law Group, our lawyers know that your situation is influenced by any number of unique factors. We’re proud to offer compassionate, experienced legal advice that you can count on. Putting your children first is one of the first steps toward protecting them—and our lawyers are here to help you through the entire process.
To learn more about our practice and how we can help, set up a consultation with our experienced Woodbury, NJ child support lawyers today.
- Locations Served in Gloucester County
- Clayton Deptford Township
- East Greenwich Elk Township
- Franklin Township Glassboro
- Greenwich Township Harrison Township
- Logan Township Mantua Township
- Monroe Township National Park
- Newfield Paulsboro
- Pitman South Harrison
- Swedesboro Washington Township
- Wenonah West Deptford
- Westville Woodbury
- Woodbury Heights Woolwich Township
Frequently Asked Questions About South Jersey Child Support Matters
Effective in 2017, New Jersey child support obligations automatically stop once the child has reached age 19. However, that doesn’t mean your obligation will always cease. A parent can file to extend the other parent’s child support obligations if continuing support is warranted—for example, if the child is pursuing higher education and isn’t financially self-sufficient yet.
We can go to court to get a court order. The court can also establish something called arrears—which means providing for the payment of past child support obligations that remain unpaid. This creates a legal obligation that’s enforceable even after your child has reached the age of majority or is no longer eligible for child support.
Failure to pay child support is a serious matter. Your child’s other parent could face wage garnishment, negative marks on their credit report, liens against tax refunds, and even an arrest warrant. The courts have the authority to enforce child support obligations and will generally issue a judgment against your child’s other parent, which will appear on their credit report. To get help enforcing your rights, call our skilled family law attorneys to schedule a consultation.
