When parents divorce or separate, they have to find ways to share their parental rights and responsibilities. They share parenting time and the authority to make decisions about their children while they are minors.
Parents also have to share financial responsibility for their children. Frequently, one parent pays the other child support. The goal is to offset different earning potentials that can lead to an uneven standard of living between the two households.
Factors including the income of both parents, the overall division of parenting time and the standard of living during the marriage can influence the amount of child support ordered. So, how long do child support payments typically last in New Jersey?
Support can last through the college years and beyond
Many people wrongfully assume that child support obligations end as soon as the child turns 18. That is not how child support works in New Jersey. Instead, the parent paying support can typically end their obligation when the child turns 19 or graduates from high school.
That being said, if they remain enrolled full-time in college or vocational programs, child support can theoretically continue until the child is 23. The courts may also extend the duration of a child support order in scenarios where the child has special needs.
In some cases, the parent paying support may need to modify the order due to a significant change in family circumstances. Other times, the parent receiving support may need to ask the court to extend the order based on family circumstances or enforce the order if the other parent does not provide support as they should.
Child support can last for longer than many people realize. Learning more about New Jersey’s unique child support laws can help parents prepare themselves for the financial challenges of shared custody.