Child Support

child support guidelines

Divorce is hard on everyone involved, including the children. Deciding on child support can be an arduous task, but a necessary one.

There are many factors examined when deciding what appropriate child support payments should be, including: income and assets of both parents, the current economic status and standards of living of each parents, the needs of the child, possible future needs of the child (like braces or higher education), earning ability of the child, age and health of both parents and any children in the household, etc.

The needs of your child are paramount and should come first. The court tries to be thorough when deciding the amount to be paid by either parent to the care-giving parent; no one wants to see a child who is not being provided for.

Discovery Can Take a While

Discovery is often a lengthy process that can seem to drag on…and perhaps be a stressful or anxious time—but it doesn’t have to be. If both parties are upfront and cooperate fully, the discovery process could be sped up. You will be asked to provide detailed and accurate information about your financial status, current and projected needs of your household (which includes all individuals currently being supported by you and/or your spouse), and the household budget among other things.

A “Case Information Statement” must be provided by both parties, and include all information about debts and assets; information like retirement funds, pension values, bank accounts, and tax returns must, of course, be provided and reviewed by each spouse’s attorney, but real estate values and vocational earning estimates may also be asked for. Everything should be taken into account during this stage in the divorce proceedings. Making sure both parties leave the marriage taken care of and able to care for themselves and their dependents are crucial.

Both parties want to be able to negotiate the divorce fairly, and if all information is provided from the start, that shouldn’t be an issue. Divorce may take a while—longer than you would prefer, anyway—but it is important to make sure you have all information necessary to make good and informed decisions about your family’s future with your New Jersey divorce lawyer

Common Grounds for Divorce

Every person is different, which would mean every marriage is different—as well as every divorce; New Jersey divorce law was written with that in mind.  There are ten possible grounds someone can use to file for divorce, the most common grounds being separation, extreme cruelty, and the often used irreconcilable differences.

When declaring your grounds for divorce in New Jersey, it’s important to make sure your claims can be substantiated. For example, using “separation” as your grounds is only possible if the couple has been apart for 18 months or more; proof of the physical separation would obviously have to be given.

Reasons for divorce vary, and the definition of the legal grounds can be interpreted differently and applied to fit each individual divorce situation. “Extreme cruelty,” for example, is one of the grounds commonly used by plaintiffs when filing, or by defendants who are responding. The ground of extreme cruelty can  mean daily verbal/physical abuse, or a lack of emotional support.

“Irreconcilable differences” is used as grounds in New Jersey divorce proceedings when the couple does not want to file with any blame pointed at the other spouse. There are situations when the marriage is simply over despite best efforts being made by both spouses.

Beginning the End of Your Marriage

No one gets married and assumes they will one day have to deal with divorce, but sometimes, unfortunately, despite your best efforts and intentions, the marriage is over; so you’re getting divorced…now what? Starting the divorce process can be overwhelming for a lot of people, but with a basic knowledge of the system and the general process, you can save yourself unnecessary stress and concentrate on what is really important—healing.

Most people look into the New Jersey divorce process with tons of questions about the overall cost, status of their finances, and how to begin what—at first glance—seems like a complicated and involved process.  Divorce is difficult enough without the added legal headaches; if there is a positive side to be seen, it is that skilled  New Jersey Divorce lawyers can painlessly guide you through this process.

The divorce process officially begins when one spouse files a “Complaint for Divorce” document, making them the “plaintiff,” and the other spouse, the “defendant,” files a response (which could mean filing for divorce on their own set of grounds).

The New Jersey Divorce process seems more complicated than it actually is. Divorce means changes for you and your family, and the decision to end your marriage comes with a lot of thought and personal reflection. Caring professionals will be able to assist you with the legal proceedings with sensitivity; contact Weinberger Divorce & Family Law Group, LLC for more information on how to start the process and get your family looking toward the future.