When does child support end?

In the state of New Jersey, there is no definite age when child support is supposed to end. There are situations that can lead parents to file for the end of child support. One option is for one parent to release the other from their duty to pay child support. This must be done in a written agreement to prove that it is a valid situation. Child support may also end when a child turns 19 and is considered to be financially independent. A parent can ask the court to file papers to name the child as emancipated, which ends the child support structure.

How is the amount of child support decided?

Child support is a payment system that is intended to financially support the children’s standard of living. The court acts with the best interests of the child in mind to make sure that they will be provided for in the best way possible. The judge will review various factors regarding the family dynamic, the parents and of course, the child’s position in this family. These factors can consist of the financial status of each parent, each party’s work history and each party’s earning capacity. In addition, the income, debt and assets of each parent are considered to see how much financial support they can give to the child. The amount of time the child spends living with each parent is also taken into consideration. These factors take into account how much each parent provides for the child throughout the years and how much they can provide in the future to ensure a stable living situation for the child.

Since the court needs to decide with the best interests of the child in mind, they consider a variety of factors relating to the child’s overall health. This includes the child’s needs, age, health, education and the cost of providing for the child, including daycare. Through these factors, the court is able to assess how much money is needed to maintain a certain standard of living for the child. This may help to ease the child into their new routine. By providing for the child in the same way, it may be able to relieve their emotional turmoil about the divorce.

Before taking any sort of legal action, it is important to discuss your legal matter with an experienced attorney. Contact The Radol Law Firm to discuss any divorce and family law matters you may be faced with.