Balancing Child Support Responsibilities Across Multiple Families in NJ

When parents have children from multiple families, establishing and calculating child support can be a challenge.  Parent A has a difficult set of circumstances.  They receive child support payments from their ex for the two children they share.  Meanwhile, they pay child support for a child from another relationship.  To complicate matters, their first ex-spouse has remarried, has another child in that relationship, and is seeking a modification of child support. Sixteen percent of children in the U.S. are part of a blended family.  Nearly 40% of families are blended, and 1,300 step-families form daily.  Along with remarrying couples and their respective children, single parents frequently remarry and acquire a blended family.  With the current divorce rate among blended families at 60% to 75%, relationships and responsibilities become even more complex in terms of child support obligations.

The Building Blocks of Child Support in New Jersey

New Jersey has child support guidelines that provide a blueprint for calculating support. While this blueprint is not absolute, it establishes a concrete pattern for the courts to follow while offering flexibility for individual circumstances. Referred to as an income shares model, it is primarily based on the combined income of the parents and the number of children receiving support.  All income sources, including overtime, side jobs, and unemployment benefits, are included in this calculation as the combined net income is determined, and child support is calculated using a chart.  The income from both parents, including extra hours, commissions, bonuses, self-employment earnings, side hustles  (part-time earnings), tax credits, and lottery winnings, are used to calculate the couple’s gross income.

Parenting time can also influence support.  It is assumed that the POR (parent of residence) takes on more of the child’s financial needs during day-to-day living.  The non-custodial parent usually carries more of the support burden depending on the number of overnight visits per month.  Childcare and health insurance costs are also added to the support amount. Educational fees and extra-curricular activities are additional expenses that can cost a pretty penny with multiple children. A child with special needs or chronic health problems may require an augmented support amount outside of the state guidelines.  Once the support amount is established, it is split according to each parent’s contribution to the total income amount.

Parents’ Guide to How NJ Arrives at Child Support Orders in Multiple Family Situations

When calculating child support, the amount of the prior support order is deducted from the parent’s weekly income to decide how much the subsequent support amount will be. A parent can be the obligor (the parent responsible for paying support) and the obligee (the parent receiving support).  When setting child support, the court considers the number of the obligor’s children from all relationships.  When someone is required to pay child support for children in several households, the court may need to look back at the previous child support orders and then average the two orders for the older child and the younger one. The idea is that neither child should have a greater economic advantage due to their birth order. The court is responsible for reaching a fair resolution as it relates to the parents’ income, the children involved, and pursuing as just a solution as possible.  It is unlawful to assign a support amount so burdensome that it leaves the parent in poverty and unable to support themselves or their family.  The concept is to provide for all of the children’s financial needs without gutting each family’s economic resources.

Understanding When and Why Child Support Orders Can Change in New Jersey and How It Affects You

Child support orders can be modified by filing a formal motion when there is a significant change in circumstances, usually economic ones.  When the obligor loses their job, is under-employed, has retired, or experiences a debilitating accident or illness that affects their earning potential, they may receive a support order for a lesser amount.  Cost of living changes or a personal tragedy such as an eviction or natural disaster can also be considered factors.  New additional child support obligations from another relationship can also call for a modification in the obligor’s support payments. Some modifications are motivated by an increase in earnings either by the obligor or the obligee.  If the obligor’s income increases substantially, the obligee can request additional support based on the increased income.  Windfalls such as an inheritance, promotion, or the sale of property or luxury items can change the support to be paid.  Contrarily, if the obligee experiences a boost in income, the obligor may request a modification to pay less.  The emancipation of a child recipient of support can also change the support obligation.

Helpful Methods for Collecting and Enforcing Child Support

The New Jersey Child Support Enforcement Program enforces and supports child support orders.  It also gathers information regarding establishing paternity and collects support payments.  By using federal resources such as the Government Parent Locator Service, which relies on information from the Social Security Administration and the IRS, delinquent obligors are found.  They can have their wages garnished, receive a bench warrant, be charged with contempt, have their driver’s license or occupational license suspended, or have assets such as bank accounts seized.  Passport denial, credit bureau reporting, liens on property and assets, and withholding tax refunds are all ways child support payments can be recovered.

Find Effective Legal Solutions to Your Multi-Family Child Support Challenges in New Jersey

New Jersey child support laws are complex and become even more so when there are multiple families in the picture.  At Bronzino Law Firm, our attorneys have successfully worked with many clients who needed help creating a support plan that is fair for their children and themselves.  We promote cooperation between families and parents to devise a plan that works for everyone and our team is also prepared to fight for your interests when cooperation is simply not an option. Whether you need help establishing, modifying, or enforcing a child support order in Monmouth Beach, Bayhead, Manasquan, Freehold, Toms River, Brick, Ocean Township, or elsewhere in Monmouth County and Ocean County, New Jersey, our family lawyers can assist you in reaching positive results. If you need help establishing or modifying child support payments or have questions regarding your next steps when you have children in different households, call us today at (732) 812-3102  or contact us online to receive a free consultation from a member of our team.