You may know all too well just how expensive it is to raise a child in the state of New Jersey, especially in this current economic climate. This is why it may seem like a daunting task to support your child as a single parent once your divorce is finalized, especially since this is something you may have never had to do before. Well, you may rest a little easier knowing that the New Jersey family court will order your child’s noncustodial parent to a certain support order they are obligated to meet each month. With that being said, please continue reading to learn the costs that child support is supposed to cover and how an experienced Morristown child support lawyer at Graves Andrews, LLC can work to ensure your child’s well-being.
What costs is child support supposed to cover in NJ?
The New Jersey Child Support Guidelines sets a standard for the family court to follow when calculating a child support order. Ideally, monthly child support payments should help cover the following, inevitable expenses that come with raising a minor child:
- Basic necessities: such as the cost of food, clothing, shelter, and basic utilities.
- Medical expenses: such as the cost of health insurance, deductibles, premiums, and co-pays.
- Educational expenses: such as the cost of tuition, uniforms, textbooks, and school supplies.
- Extracurricular and entertainment expenses: such as the cost of sports, outings, games, toys, etc.
- Childcare expenses: such as the cost of after-school care for when the custodial parent is still at work.
- Transportation expenses: such as the cost of transporting your child to scheduled visitation with their noncustodial parent.
What if my child support order does not cover the full cost of raising my child?
The New Jersey family court will make a fair assessment of your child’s needs, along with the yearly earnings of both you and the child’s noncustodial parent, to deduce a just child support order. This order may work swimmingly in the beginning. However, as your child gets older, or otherwise experiences significant life events, the cost of raising them may shift. For example, they may be reaching the age where they are considering continuing their education at a college or university. Or, they may have received a life-altering medical diagnosis that now requires intensive healthcare treatments.
In cases such as these, you may require additional financial support from your child’s noncustodial parent. The most effective way to obtain this is by petitioning for a post-judgment modification with the court that handled your child support case initially. But if you still find yourself at a crossroads, please seek the sound advisement of a skilled Morristown family law attorney. Someone at Graves Andrews, LLC will stand by your side at a moment’s notice.
