Is Child Support Mandatory in New Jersey?

Just because your spouse will no longer be living with you and your child post-divorce does not necessarily mean that they are off the hook for financially contributing to your child’s everyday needs. This is why the New Jersey family court will hold your spouse accountable to a certain standard via a child support order. Without further ado, follow along to find out whether a child support order is mandatory in New Jersey and how one of the proficient Somerset County child support lawyers at the Law Offices of Kisha M. Hebbon, LLC can help your child receive the financial aid they are entitled to.

Is a child support order mandatory in the state of New Jersey?

Yes, the New Jersey family court must grant a support order if a child is involved in a divorce case. This is because a minor child holds the right to receive financial assistance for their everyday basic needs (i.e., food, clothing, and housing), healthcare, education, and other unavoidable expenses. Now, several factors go into how much a child should receive from their noncustodial parent, including the lifestyle they grew accustomed to while their parents were still together. Generally speaking, though, the court will reference these enforced state guidelines:

• Seventeen percent of the parents’ combined incomes must go towards support for one child.
• Twenty-five percent of the combined income must go toward two children.
• Twenty-nine percent of the combined income must go toward three children.
• Thirty-one percent of the combined income must go toward four children.
• Thirty-five percent of the combined income must go toward five or more children.

Then, the noncustodial parent’s share of support is calculated by multiplying the total support amount by their percentage of income. For example, if the parents’ combined incomes are $100,000, 17 percent of this would make the support order approximately $17,000 per year or $1,416 per month. Well, if the noncustodial parent contributes 60 percent of this combined income, they may be expected to pay approximately $10,200 per year or $850 per month.

What if a child does not receive the financial support they are entitled to?

You may rest easier knowing that the New Jersey Child Support Enforcement Administration (CEA) is tasked with ensuring your child receives the support they are entitled to. So if a noncustodial parent stops making their court-ordered child support payments, you may work on your child’s behalf in contacting the CEA. Here, the CEA may take any of the following actions to rectify the situation:

• The CEA may place a lien on a noncustodial parent’s real property until the support is paid.
• The CEA may seize the noncustodial parent’s bank accounts, stocks, and bonds to make support payments.
• The CEA may order the noncustodial parent’s employer to withhold paycheck earnings to make support payments.
• The CEA may withhold the noncustodial parent’s tax refunds, pensions, and lottery winnings to make support payments.
• The CEA may notify credit agencies to hurt the noncustodial parent’s chances of getting credit or loans until their support payments are met.

In conclusion, please retain the services of one of the talented Somerset County family lawyers from the Law Offices of Kisha M. Hebbon, LLC today.