Child Support Attorney in Hackensack NJ
Parents in New Jersey are financially responsible for their children until they turn 19 years old and can be emancipated. This is true even if the parents get divorced. In these situations, the parents will have to come up with a child support arrangement to ensure that the child’s needs are being met. In many cases, parents disagree on a child support arrangement and need the court to either decide for them or enforce it on their behalf. The court will always come up with a child support arrangement that is in the best interests of the child. Mark McAuliffe of McNerney & McAuliffe has decades of experience helping parents navigate the challenges of divorce when children are involved. Contact our firm today to learn how Attorney McAuliffe can help.
Child Support Guidelines in New Jersey
When parents cannot come to an agreement on child support in New Jersey, a judge will base their decision on the New Jersey Child Support Guidelines. These guidelines allow the child to reap the benefits of both parents’ incomes in an effort to maintain the quality of life they once had. These Guidelines take the financial situations of each party into consideration to come up with a support structure that will be fair for both parties.
Factors that impact NJ Child Support
When the court is forced to make a decision regarding child support for divorcing parents in New Jersey, there is a lot to take into account in order to ensure all of the child’s needs are met within the abilities of the parents. The court takes a variety of factors into consideration when they hear a child support case. Some of these factors may include:
- The custody arrangement
- The needs of the child
- The family’s standard of living before the divorce
- Each parent’s financial situation
- Assets and liabilities of each parent
- Earning capacity of each parent
- Age and health of each parent
- Age and health of the child
- The parent’s other orders for child support
Child Emancipation in New Jersey
For the most part, children in New Jersey are considered emancipated when they turn 19. When a child is “emancipated” in the eyes of the state, the parents will no longer have to pay child support. However, when the parent believes that their child is financially independent, they are able to file a motion that will officially emancipate them and ultimately, end their support obligation. Of course, the emancipation of a child is determined on a case-by-case basis because every situation is unique.
It is important to be aware that there are many situations that can allow a child support obligation to be extended beyond age 19, including the following:
- Children who choose to attend college or trade school can be supported through the age of 23
- Children with disabilities can also be supported past age 19
- In some situations, the support can even be extended past 23
Contact a Bergen County Child Support Attorney
Family courts in New Jersey strive to minimize the negative impacts of a divorce on the children involved. Child support is often a complex topic with many factors to consider and many times, parents cannot come to an agreement on the matter. It is important to have the strong legal representation of a qualified attorney who can provide you with assistance in court. If you need an experienced attorney who can effectively represent your interests and the best interests of your child, contact McNerney & McAuliffe today to schedule an appointment with Attorney Mark McAuliffe.
