Divorce is never easy and may be especially tough on any children involved. A child may have a very hard time dealing with what they perceive to be the abandonment of a parent. The Court ordering of child support along with its regular payment are an important aspect of maintaining a financially stable home environment for a child whom is already making a major emotional adjustment.

During the negotiation phase of a divorce with a child or children involved, the parents may establish the terms of their child support agreement. The Law Offices of Jef Henninger have a team of experienced Lawyers available to provide expert legal representation for you during this process. In most divorce cases the custodial parent is entitled to financial support from the non-custodial parent for the caring of their child. Final support agreements may also include such items as health care insurance, college expenses and other items which may be unique to their situation.

Our New Jersey Child Support Resources section provides information and links to state and county agencies that may be of assistance to you in understanding your rights and acquiring assistance.

Passage of Termination of Child Support Law

Governor Christie signed S-1046/A-2721 into law in January 2016. This law establishes the age of 19 years as the age when a child support and/or medical support obligation ends in New Jersey. The new law allows for child and/or medical support to continue up to the age of 23 for cases in which the dependent is still in college or receiving vocational training. Disability and other unique situations may extend support payments if granted by a NJ court.(http://www.njchildsupport.org/Services-Programs/Custodial-Parents/Termination/Emancipation.aspx)

NJ Emancipation Attorney

Common New Jersey Child Support FAQ’s

• How do the New Jersey courts set child support amounts?

New Jersey child support courts sets the amount of support using established child support guidelines. The amount of support is based on the income of both parents and an average dollar amount that families spend per child. The New Jersey child support guidelines are in appendix IX-A of the New Jersey Court Rules (link https://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/attorneys/assets/rules/app9a.pdf ).

 

• How do the courts decide what is fair child support?

The New Jersey Family Courts calculate support based on income of both parents, special situation requirements and certain poverty level testing criteria. Child support applicants may be able to expedite the process by promptly providing all of the requested financial information such as child care, tax liability and health care insurance at the time of their hearing.

 

• 3) Are expenses considered when calculating child support amounts?

The short answer is no. The amount of child support that a parent is required to pay is based on income earned. A parents earning power may be limited based on several factors which they may have little control over. Expenses on the other hand are very controllable for most people under normal circumstances.

 

• 4) Are New Jersey child support guidelines applied universally?

It is the New Jersey Child Support Court that decides how to apply the support guidelines and when to make exceptions to the established guidelines. Children exhibiting gifted tendencies and disabled children are a few common exceptions to New Jersey child support guidelines. Families with more than 6 children may also fit under the special consideration rules.

 

• 5) Is it possible to change the amount of child support ordered by a New Jersey Court?

If the financial situation of a supporting parent permanently changes, a motion may be filed with the court for an adjustment in child support. The disability of a supporting parent or the relocation of an employer which creates a permanent loss of earning power are a few situations that may warrant a recalculating of child support obligations.

 

• 6) What happens when support stops being paid?

When a non custodial parent stops making child support payments the collection process is put into the hands of the county probation department. The collection process may include a court ordered wage garnishment and may also include tax refund and lottery winnings confiscation. Past due child support may also be recouped by means of auto, real estate and bank account seizure.

 

• Does a New Jersey child support order terminate when a child reaches the age of 18 years?

Only if agreed to and documented in a divorce decree. Effective February 1, 2017, the age of child support termination in New Jersey is 19 years of age. This new law establishes 19 as the age when a child support and/or medical support obligation will end. The new law allows for child and/or medical support to continue up to age 23 for cases in which the dependent is still in college or trade school.

 

• What if the non-custodial parent moves to another state?

When a non custodial parent relocates out of New Jersey it does not relieve that parent from his or her child support obligation. The New Jersey child support agency will attempt to garnish the wages of a new employer if support payments are voluntarily discontinued.

 

• Does child emancipation end a NJ child support obligation?

The financial obligation to support a child in New Jersey ends with the emancipation of that child.

 

New Jersey State Child Support Office Location
Office of Child Support Services
PO Box 716
Trenton, NJ 08625

New Jersey Child Care Help Line
800-332-9227

New Jersey Child Support Hotline
877-655-4371

New Jersey Department of Human Services

Human Services is the largest government agency run by the state of New Jersey.

• parents needing child care services,
• accessing child support
• healthcare for children
• http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/

New Jersey Child Support Handbook
http://www.njchildsupport.org/getattachment/Resources-Forms/ChildSupport_hndbk_Eng_1958_nocrops_8-2016.pdf.aspx

NJ Child Support Handbook in Spanish
http://www.njchildsupport.org/getattachment/Resources-Forms/ChildSupport_hndbk_Span_1958_nocrops_8-2016.pdf.aspx

New Jersey Parent Link
http://www.nj.gov/njparentlink/services/assistance/

 

Military Family Child Support Resources

Information about the Service Members Civil Relief Act (SCRA) and how it may affect child support orders http://www.dix.army.mil/LegalOffice/files/SCRA.pdf

Regulations that govern support obligations, paternity and child support issues for each branch of service:

Army: Army Regulation 608

99, Family Support, Child Custody and Paternity

Air Force: SECAF INSTA. 36.2906, Personal Financial Responsibility

Marine Corps: MC Order P5800.16A (LEGALADMIN), Ch. 15 (Dependent Support and Paternity)

Navy: Navy Military Personnel Manual (MILSPERMAN) art. 1754

030 (Support of Family Members) art. 5800

10 (Paternity Complaints)

 

Links and Information for Local Child Support Services by County

Child Support Atlantic County NJ
Child Support Bergen County NJ
Child Support Burlington County NJ
Child Support Camden County NJ
Child Support Cape May County NJ
Child Support Cumberland County NJ
Child Support Essex County NJ
Child Support Gloucester County NJ
Child Support Hudson County NJ
Child Support Hunterdon County NJ
Child Support Mercer County NJ
Child Support Middlesex County NJ
Child Support Monmouth County NJ
Child Support Morris County NJ
Child Support Ocean County NJ
Child Support Passaic County NJ
Child Support Salem County NJ
Child Support Somerset County NJ
Child Support Sussex County NJ
Child Support Union County NJ
Child Support Warren County NJ