If you are one of the many parents in New Jersey who may be getting divorced, you might need to pay or receive child support. You may also be facing this issue if you were never married to your child’s other parent. As explained by the New Jersey Courts, the state operates its program for allotting child support on the philosophy referred to as income shares approach.
This philosophy is based on a few key principles including the belief that children should not go without just because their parents were never married to each other or got divorced. In short, children deserve the same lifestyle regardless of their parents’ marital status or relationship to each other. It also states that both parents have the ongoing responsibility to financially provide for their children and that kids have the right to share in both parents’ income.
Basic necessities of life like food, clothing and shelter are part of what child support is intended for. Extracurricular entertainment, transportation, some out-of-pocket medical expense and personal care is also included. Except in some situations such as with a special needs or highly gifted child, education is not a designated use of child support money. Daycare may be covered depending on the circumstances.
If you would like to learn more about the provisions and guidelines governing child support determinations and use of child support funds, please feel free to visit the financial responsibility of parents page of our New Jersey family law and child support website.