If child support and alimony, maintenance, or spousal support are being determined simultaneously (for the same family), the court shall determine the amount of alimony, maintenance, or spousal support before applying the child support guidelines, except when the court establishes pendente lite support.
How to fill out the Child Support Guidelines Worksheet? Collect your gross weekly income and related expenses. Enter all deductions applicable to your income. Calculate your available income by subtracting expenses from income. Determine the combined available income with the second parent.
Child support is never deductible and isn't considered income. Additionally, if a divorce or separation instrument provides for alimony and child support, and the payer spouse pays less than the total required, the payments apply to child support first. Only the remaining amount is considered alimony.
In New Jersey, alimony terminates upon the death or remarriage of the supported spouse. However, if the paying spouse remarries, the alimony payments will continue. If the person paying alimony dies, they usually have life insurance to secure their spousal support to the recipient.
In most cases, alimony is temporary. But, if your marriage has lasted for more than 20 years, you may be eligible to receive permanent alimony. If your marriage has lasted for less than twenty years, New Jersey law limits the amount of time that you can receive alimony to the amount of time that you were marred.
The child support program will match payments you make towards your child support case and credit the same amount towards your arrears balance owed to the state.
You can go on your own or with the help of a lawyer. If you can't afford a lawyer you can contact Legal Services of New Jersey at 1-888-LSNJLAW (1-888-576-5529) or visit the website here. You may be eligible for services. Your request for child support is called a complaint.