{"id":374978,"date":"2025-05-01T23:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-02T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/new-jersey-law\/new-jersey-child-support-guidelines.html"},"modified":"2025-05-01T23:00:00","modified_gmt":"2025-05-02T04:00:00","slug":"new-jersey-child-support-guidelines","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/new-jersey-law\/new-jersey-child-support-guidelines.html","title":{"rendered":"New Jersey Child Support Guidelines"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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New Jersey Child Support Guidelines<\/h1>\n
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\n By Kit Yona, M.A.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Jordan Walker, J.D.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n

Child support obligations in New Jersey are issued so parents can be court-ordered to financially support their children. Using the New Jersey child support guidelines, the amount is calculated for a child support case based on parents’ incomes, custody arrangements, and the number of children. The guidelines allow for differences in custody and parenting time to arrive at an amount of support that meets the needs of the child\/children. Payments typically end at age 19 or high school graduation but may continue for education or special needs. Shared or sole parenting affects calculations, with the noncustodial parent often making payments to the custodial parent.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

This article explains how child support guidelines work<\/a> and what you should expect to encounter during the process. Read on for a better understanding of child support guidelines in New Jersey.<\/p>\r\n

New Jersey Child Support Guidelines – Understanding The Basics<\/h2>\r\n

Seeing how the New Jersey child support guidelines work is easier if you have a firm grasp on what child support<\/a> is. When having both parents raise the children together in a single household is not an option, child support is a requirement. This is to ensure basic needs are met and that the order is in the child’s best interests.<\/p>\r\n

Under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act of 1975<\/a>, federal law stated that each state had to create an agency to oversee the collection, disbursement, and enforcement of child support payments. The New Jersey Child Support Division handles all administrative aspects of child support. It works with the family court on the creation of child support orders.<\/p>\r\n

Regardless of their relationship with the other parent, each parent is obligated to provide for their minor children. Court orders determining child support can come from divorce proceedings, child custody cases, or a birth parent filing a petition for support<\/a> with the Child Support Division of the New Jersey Department of Human Services.<\/p>\r\n

In New Jersey, most child support obligations end<\/a> when the child either turns 19 years old or graduates from high school, whichever happens first. Extensions are possible for continued education or if the adult child suffers from certain physical, mental, or emotional challenges. Parents should file the Request for Continuation of Support form mailed to them to indicate ongoing support.<\/p>\r\n

The parent who has the child for the most overnights per year is the custodial parent<\/a> (CP) and the Parent of Primary Residence (PPR). The other parent is the noncustodial parent (NCP). The child custody arrangement between the birth parents affects child support payments. Two different types of custody<\/a> are used by the New Jersey guidelines for child support payment:<\/p>\r\n

Shared Parenting<\/h3>\r\n

If a child spends 104 overnights per year (28% of nights) or more with the NCP, the courts use shared parenting<\/a> guidelines to calculate the amount of child support. Shared parenting considers the amount of physical time spent with each parent when determining child support amounts. Child support payments for the NCP are lower because they are presumed to spend money while having the child.<\/p>\r\n

Sole Parenting<\/h3>\r\n

Sole parenting is based on a custodial parent (CP) who has custody of the children and is the PPR. Sole parenting<\/a> is used if both parents have physical custody of at least one child. The NCP remains the paying parent if their amount of physical custody is less than 1o4 overnights per year (28%).<\/p>\r\n

In most instances of sole parenting<\/a>, the non-custodial parent (NCP) is the one making child support payments. All payments are sent to the New Jersey Family Support Payment Center (NJFCPC)<\/a> and handled by NJ Child Support<\/a>. FindLaw’s New Jersey Child Support Payments<\/a> article contains everything you need to know about making and receiving child support payments in the state.<\/p>\r\n

Before any work on a child support order can begin, there needs to be legal recognition of the child’s parents. A child born to a married couple is considered their offspring. Unmarried parents who agree the child is theirs can sign a Certificate of Parentage<\/a>, which is a legal document. For disputed parentage, genetic testing is the next step. This is either voluntary or compelled by a court order.<\/p>\r\n

New Jersey Child Support Guidelines – Determining Child Support Payments <\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Unless there’s a compelling reason for deviation, New Jersey courts will set child support orders using the guidelines. While no two child support orders are the same, the courts use the same two worksheets (shared parenting<\/a> and sole parenting<\/a>) for calculation. This provides uniformity and fairness in determination. Parents can use the worksheets for estimation, but the final amounts may differ.<\/p>\r\n

New Jersey child support guidelines use an income shares model<\/a>. Under this system, each parent’s income is combined to determine how much money is available for child support. Gross income includes all earning sources, including:<\/p>\r\n