Child Support Attorneys in Bergen County, NJ

Protecting Children's Rights in New Jersey

If you are working to obtain a divorce in New Jersey and children are involved, finding a solution with your spouse to provide for the basic living expenses of your child is critical. While it can be challenging to ascertain exactly how much child support you will likely be ordered to pay, our child support attorney in Bergen County can help determine your child's needs and how to handle them, ensuring all legal responsibilities are met effectively.

Our goal at Sherwood, Johnson & Poles is always to seek a favorable resolution designed with the best interests of the child involved, particularly after a difficult divorce. We work hard to reach agreements that focus on the child, as well as the family. Our team-based approach ensures you and your family will be represented by a group of compassionate lawyers. We are dedicated to finding a solution that best fits the needs of you and your family, and we'll never apply a one-size-fits-all approach to your situation. By partnering with parents, we aim to foster an environment that supports effective co-parenting arrangements post-divorce.

Dealing with a child support in Wyckoff or Fair Lawn? Call Sherwood, Johnson & Poles today at (888) 224-1218 or contact us online to schedule a meeting with one of our child support attorneys in Bergen County.

Understanding Child Support Obligations in Bergen County

In New Jersey, the court follows an Income Shares Model. This model, referred to as the Child Support Guidelines, is composed of statistical data approximating the total support amount that most parents would spend on a child in an intact family unit. This number is then split between parents during a divorce, based on their incomes. These guidelines may not necessarily dictate the support in your individual situation.

Bergen County child support is meant to cover expenses for the child, including:

• Food and shelter
• Clothing
• Transportation
• Entertainment
• Miscellaneous needs

The court can also revise the guidelines to include additional necessities such as work-related child care, the child's health insurance, or other necessary expenses. Understanding these obligations is crucial, and our attorneys provide detailed guidance on how these factors apply specifically to your situation in Wyckoff and Fair Lawn.

Utilizing the New Jersey Child Support Calculator

Bergen County child support is designed to protect children from economic hardship after a divorce. At Sherwood, Johnson & Poles, our child support lawyers in Bergen County can help provide you with an accurate valuation of your financial situation and child support duties, using sophisticated tools like the New Jersey Child Support Calculator to offer insights and support in structuring fair support agreements.

Guidelines for determining support and creating a support order include:

• The parents' combined net income.
• Division of time spent between the custodial parent and the non-custodial parent (visitation).
• The basic needs of the child, such as: food, clothing, housing, transportation, and medical expenses.
• Additional expenses such as: cost of transportation to and from visitation, emergency medical expenses, childcare necessitated by the parents' work schedule.

If you have fallen behind in your payments, our Bergen County child support attorney can address any outstanding child support warrants and find a solution to your current predicament. You need to resolve backed payments quickly as they can result in jail time. Our attorneys can assist in negotiating feasible payment plans and exploring modification options to ensure compliance with court orders.

Our local attorneys are experienced in addressing costs of living and other related factors, ensuring that we argue for fair support arrangements that reflect the true cost of child-rearing in this region, including areas like Wyckoff and Fair Lawn.

Modifying Your Child Support Agreement in Wyckoff or Fair Lawn

A child support plan can be modified if there has been an ongoing change in circumstances. While guidelines apply to minors under the age of 18, sometimes a court may decide that a parent should continue to contribute if his or her child over 18 is attending college full time.

A court may also deviate from the Income Shares Model if they deem them to be inappropriate or believe they need to be adjusted to accommodate the needs of the children and parents. When doing so, however, the reason must be stated in writing.

Examples of reasons that the child support guidelines might be modified include:

• High-income situations
• If the children have special needs
• If more than six children reside in one household
• If either parent has medical expenses that are not reimbursed
• The children have specific educational needs

The court will have the final say whether they believe the parent's change in circumstances is so significant that changing child support is necessary. Some parents may agree to this on their own, and other times they may disagree. When the parents do not agree to change child support, the requesting parent may file a motion with the court to request a modification.

If the case goes to court, there will need to be explicit proof that the parent and the child truly need to update their child's support in order to uphold their standard of living. Our team will work with you to ensure that you have all the documentation and support required to present a compelling case to the court.

Enforcing Child Support Payments in Bergen County

If you are supposed to receive child support in Bergen County and the supporting parent is either not paying or is late, a court action may be necessary. A hearing can be requested in family court and a judge will decide what action should be taken against the parent who owes payment of support. Our attorneys can guide you through this process and help explore all enforcement options, such as wage garnishment or license suspension, to ensure compliance and support are obtained effectively.

To learn more, do not hesitate to contact Sherwood, Johnson & Poles. In our 25 years of combined legal experience in family law, we have handled many such situations, which means we understand how child support works in New Jersey and how to ensure you are not taken advantage of during proceedings. Our team is committed to offering knowledgeable guidance that helps protect your rights and the well-being of your family.

Get in Touch with Our Bergen County Child Support Lawyers

As members of the New Jersey State Bar Association, New York State Bar Association, Bergen County Bar Association, New Jersey Association of Professional Mediators, and International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, you can count on our child support attorneys in Bergen County to provide you with the information for which you are looking. Our affiliations with these esteemed organizations mean we stay at the forefront of family law developments, ensuring you receive knowledgeable and up-to-date legal support.