Child Support

South Jersey Child Support Attorneys

Since 1986, the New Jersey court system has required the use of guidelines for child support. Prior to that time, judges had broad discretion in awarding child support. However, there was so much discretion and room for debate, the issue was never easily resolved.

Today, New Jersey child support guidelines are income-driven. There is a worksheet prepared which includes three columns. The incomes of both parties are entered at the top of the worksheet, any alimony is then exchanged, mandatory union dues, retirement contributions, and taxes are subtracted. The two net incomes are added in the third column to create a fictionalized family income as if the two parties were still together. The supreme court then uses a chart that lists the net incomes and the corresponding support figure for a family with 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 children..

Your share of the total child support amount will be in proportion to your share of total factual family income. For example, if your income is 30 percent of the fictionalized family income and your spouse's income is 70 percent, you would pay 30 percent of the recommended child support amount from the chart and your spouse will pay 70 percent. If the total child support is $100 from the chart, you would pay $30 and your spouse would pay $70. That percentage remains constant for unreimbursed medical expenses, braces, college expenses, and all other expenses of raising your children.

To schedule a consultation, contact New Jersey child support lawyers Christopher Musulin and Colleen McGuigan. With office in Mount Holly, we serve clients throughout South Jersey.

The Divorce article on our Articles page contains a copy of the New Jersey Child Support Worksheet.

Your Child Support Attorneys

Christopher Musulin is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the author of numerous books and articles on divorce, child custody, and child support.

Colleen A. McGuigan is a member of the Burlington County Bar Association and the New Jersey Bar Association.