Child Support Lawyers
Parents' decision to divorce can cause children to suffer both emotionally and financially.
Child support attorneys can help parents navigate complex New Jersey child support laws to help ensure their children are taken care of.
Dunne, Dunne & Cohen, LLC in Kearny, Avon-By-The-Sea, and Hoboken, NJ, can help parents receive favorable child support outcomes.
An Overview of Child Support Laws in New Jersey
Child support laws in the state follow a strict formula, known as the New Jersey Child Support Guidelines. These guidelines follow an “Income Shares Model” of support. Simply put, the formula calculates the total support parents would spend on a child if the family were intact, divided proportionally between the parents according to how much income they each earn.
The goal of child support is for children to receive the identical amount of parental income they would receive if both parents lived together. While this may sound simple in theory, an attorney needs to ensure certain factors are carefully weighed and that the formula is properly applied. Our Hoboken-area lawyers can properly evaluate the various factors to help ensure fairness in child support cases.
What Sets Our Attorneys Apart Child Support Lawyers Who Are on Your Side
Head to our offices in Kearny, Avon-By-The-Sea, and Hoboken for help alleviating child support issues
Family Law Background
Child support cases often require intricate care. The attorneys at our law firm have a proven track record of success in these cases. Our clients are often put at ease when they find out we have already earned favorable outcomes for clients in similar child support situations. Our lawyers have helped parents in Hoboken and the greater Jersey City area for decades, and through our work have gained a deep understanding of the relevant laws.
Authentic Compassion
Divorce itself can be very agonizing. When child custody battles and child support orders are added to a divorce, the situation can become even more distressing. At our law firm, we understand that every case is an extremely important occurrence in the lives of our clients. Each client will meet directly with a lawyer who truly cares about the outcome of their child support situation.
We Help Hoboken, NJ, and Beyond
"For both divorce and child support/custody issues, call Leonard Cohen at Dunne,Dunne & Cohen. He is great, knowledgeable and tough, very tough! The whole process of going to court was very nerve wracking and Lenny did a great job at being that to ease. I was always treated first class and like I am family. You are in good hands with Dunne,Dunne & Cohen !" Francisco Pena
Put Your Family's Best Interests First Family Law Does Not Have to be a Nightmare
If your relationship with your child’s other parent is ending, our law firm can help. Our child support lawyers have more than 60 combined years of practicing in family law. We have multiple convenient locations, from Avon-By-The-Sea, NJ, up to our Hoboken, NJ, office just outside of Jersey City. We pride ourselves on meeting the varied needs of parents throughout the state.
Child support rules can be complicated. You need a lawyer with an in-depth understanding of how to file modifications for child support, and who knows how to enforce and monitor child support payments. The attorneys at Dunne, Dunne & Cohen, LLC can help you navigate the process. Call or write to us to schedule a free consultation.
(201) 998-2727
Child Support Orders
Child support orders can be created during a divorce, when an unmarried parent wants child support, or through the involvement of state government agencies. Regardless of the reason you need our services, our attorneys can explore the best options to achieve your priorities, in or out of court.
When it comes to child support payment, orders establish amounts that must be paid, determine the procedure for payment, and set penalties for violating the order. Failure to pay can result in seizure of property, loss of various licenses, and even jail time.
Shared vs. Sole Parenting Our Child Support Attorneys Will Help You Understand
Parents are required by law to support their children, whether or not they are in a sole or shared parenting situation. New Jersey state law dictates very exact parameters used to distinguish between sole and shared parenting:
Sole Parenting
If you are the custodial parent and your child spends fewer than 28% of his or her time (less than 104 nights in a year) with the non-custodial parent, it is considered a sole parenting arrangement. In this arrangement, the sole parent will receive a larger share of the total available income for support than they would in a shared parenting arrangement. This is because the courts presume the parent will be paying larger direct costs to raise the child, and taking on higher fixed expenses.
Shared Parenting
If you are the custodial parent and your child spends more than 28% of his or her time (roughly 104 or more nights per year) with the non-custodial parent, it is considered shared parenting in New Jersey. In these cases, the parent who spends the majority of the time with the child will receive a smaller fraction of the total available income than they would have in a sole parenting arrangement.
Estimating Child Support Payments
You can estimate how much child support a judge might order by using the sole parenting worksheet or the shared parenting worksheet. When a parent seeks to either establish or modify child support, the court requires these worksheets to be completed.
Alternatively, you can get a rough estimate of child support obligations using a child support calculator. It is important to keep in mind that these are rough estimates and that the final determination will be made in court.
Terminating or Modifying
Child Support Obligations
There are circumstances in which the court may either modify or terminate child support agreements. A court may modify an order if there has been a change in circumstances that is material and ongoing. Support will terminate automatically in the event a support order includes a specific date or event of termination.
While state law does not identify a specific age at which a parent’s obligation to support their child ceases, child support guidelines do not apply to children above 18 years old who have graduated high school. However, the courts will sometimes order a parent to contribute support for a child above 18 years old if they are attending college full-time.
Our Lawyers Make a Difference In Kearny, Avon-By-The-Sea, and Hoboken, NJ
"Outstanding Legal team. Behind every great lawyer is even better legal staff. Chip and Fred Dunne have assisted me on several matters of which yielded favorable results. Navigating legal matters requires subject matter experts and also people who have your best interest at heart. I highly recommend this law firm and the staff employed there. You are in the best of hands with Dunne, Dunne & Cohen. I could not be happier and with the quality and professionalism of this firm." Karen Baker
