New Jersey Family Law BlogChild Support in New Jersey: How Parents’ Financial Obligations Are Determined
Parents’ financial obligations to their children don’t end simply because they separate. Child support is designed to ensure the essential expenses—food, clothing, housing, transportation—of raising children continue to be met. Additional expenses, like health insurance premiums, extraordinary medical care, and work-related childcare, may also be included, if needed. Determining each parent’s share of these obligations is based on several factors: income, parenting time, number and ages of children.
How Income and Parenting Time Play A Role
The percentage each parent contributes to the family’s combined net income is a major consideration when calculating child support. For example, if one parent earns 40% of the combined income and the other earns 60%, their individual child support obligation would be impacted by this. One parent’s receipt of alimony from the other parent would require adjustment of these percentages. Be aware, though, that a parent who is unemployed or under-employed by choice is not exempt from their child support obligation; rather their share of this obligation can be based on their potential earning capacity.