Somerset County Child Support Lawyers
When parents divorce or separate, ensuring that children receive proper financial support becomes one of the most important legal issues to resolve. In Somerset County, New Jersey, child support is designed to meet a child’s needs while balancing each parent’s financial ability. Understanding how support is calculated, enforced, and modified can make a significant difference in protecting your rights and your child’s future.
How Is Child Support Calculated in Somerset County, New Jersey?
Child support in New Jersey is determined by the New Jersey Child Support Guidelines, which provide a formula for calculating each parent’s obligation. These guidelines consider both parents’ incomes, the number of children, the time children spend with each parent, and expenses such as health insurance, child care, and other child-related costs.
The goal is to ensure that children enjoy a standard of living as close as possible to what they would have had if both parents lived together. While the court typically follows the guidelines, judges have discretion to adjust the final amount if special circumstances exist, such as unusually high medical or educational needs.
When Does Child Support End?
In New Jersey, child support typically ends when a child turns 19 or becomes emancipated—whichever happens first. However, support may continue in certain cases. For example, if a child is still in high school, enrolled full-time in college, or has a physical or mental disability that prevents self-sufficiency, support can extend up to age 23. Even when current payments end, any unpaid support—called arrears—remains enforceable. Parents are responsible for fulfilling past-due obligations regardless of when the ongoing order terminates.
What Happens If a Parent Fails to Pay?
New Jersey courts take child support enforcement seriously. Payments are usually deducted directly from wages through income withholding, but if a parent falls behind, several enforcement tools are available. The state can garnish wages, intercept tax refunds, suspend driver’s or professional licenses, or place liens on property. Persistent nonpayment may even result in contempt proceedings. Courts cannot retroactively reduce or forgive missed payments, so it is critical for parents who experience financial hardship to request a formal modification rather than stop paying.
Can Child Support Orders Be Modified in Somerset County?
Yes. Either parent may seek a modification if there has been a substantial change in circumstances. This might include job loss, a significant increase in income, a change in custody or parenting time, or new medical or educational expenses. Modifications require court approval, and both parents must provide updated financial information so the court can reassess the obligation fairly. Routine reviews are also permitted every three years to ensure the order still reflects both parents’ current financial situations.
What If One Parent Lives Out of State?
If one parent lives outside New Jersey, child support orders can still be enforced under the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA). This law allows states to work together to enforce, collect, or modify child support orders across state lines. Somerset County’s Family Division and the New Jersey Child Support Program coordinate with other states to make sure support continues without interruption.
How Do I Start or Enforce a Child Support Case in Somerset County?
A parent can request child support as part of a divorce proceeding or through a separate filing in the Somerset County Family Division. The county’s Board of Social Services assists with establishing paternity, locating noncustodial parents, collecting payments, and managing enforcement actions. The court will review both parents’ finances, apply the state guidelines, and issue a support order. Once established, payments are tracked through New Jersey’s child support system to ensure accountability and transparency.
Somerset County Child Support Lawyers at Tune Law Group, LLC: Protect Your Child’s Future Today
Raising a child takes commitment, time, and financial security. Our Somerset County child support lawyers at Tune Law Group, LLC understand how vital these obligations are to your family’s stability. Call today at 908-434-1061 or fill out our online form for a free consultation. We have an office in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey.
