{"id":374979,"date":"2018-05-07T11:35:34","date_gmt":"2018-05-07T16:35:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/new-jersey-law\/new-jersey-child-support-modifications.html"},"modified":"2025-05-16T18:35:50","modified_gmt":"2025-05-16T23:35:50","slug":"new-jersey-child-support-modifications","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/new-jersey-law\/new-jersey-child-support-modifications.html","title":{"rendered":"New Jersey Child Support Modifications"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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New Jersey Child Support Modifications<\/h1>\n
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\n By Kit Yona, M.A.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq.<\/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

Our world is full of unexpected twists and turns. Some can have a major effect on your day-to-day life. Setbacks can make paying expenses such as child support<\/a> difficult or even impossible. Circumstances in your child’s life can call for increased financial support from the noncustodial parent. Sometimes a New Jersey child support payment needs modification.<\/p>\r\n

Aside from cost of living adjustments (COLA), all child support modifications require a court hearing. It’s often tricky and confusing to try to learn what’s required. To help, this article will explain what qualifies to modify a child support order<\/a> and show you the forms you’ll need to apply. We’ll also give you a step-by-step breakdown of the application process.<\/p>\r\n

Fulfilling your child support obligations is important. You also need to take care of your basic needs<\/a>. Read on for a better understanding of how child support orders are modified in New Jersey.<\/p>\r\n

New Jersey Child Support Orders<\/h2>\r\n

If you’re here to learn about modifying a child support payment, there’s a good chance you already have a Title IV-D child support order as part of your life. If not, FindLaw’s New Jersey Child Support Payments article<\/a> offers a detailed explanation of how child support amounts are determined.<\/p>\r\n

Each parent’s income figures into how much money the state thinks would have been spent on the children if the parents were together. There are calculators available online<\/a> to give a rough and non-legal estimate of child support costs.<\/p>\r\n

Child custody arrangements<\/a> can affect child support amounts. In New Jersey, if the custodial parent has physical custody of the children more than 72% of the time (over 261 nights per year), it’s considered sole parenting<\/b>. If the noncustodial parent has the kids two nights a week on average (at least 104 nights per year), it’s shared parenting<\/b>.<\/p>\r\n

In most instances, the noncustodial parent makes child support payments to the custodial parent. This is done through the New Jersey Family Support Payment Center (NJFSPC)<\/a>. The preferred method is to have your employer deduct the child support obligation from your paycheck, but other options are available.<\/p>\r\n

Ways To Change a New Jersey Child Support Order<\/h2>\r\n

Once the court order for child support is issued, there are only a few ways to change it. Let’s take a look at how this can be accomplished.<\/p>\r\n

Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA)<\/h3>\r\n

All New Jersey child support orders are subject to a cost of living adjustment (COLA)<\/a> review every two years. Any changes are based on the average change to the Consumer Price Index for metropolitan areas in New Jersey. Either parent can contest the judgment within 30 days of the mailing of the notice.<\/p>\r\n

Changes due to COLA may not need a court hearing to go into effect. The New Jersey Child Support Program<\/a> can help you with this. The phone number is 1-877-NJKIDS1.<\/p>\r\n

Three-Year Review<\/h3>\r\n

Once every three years, either parent can request a review<\/a> of the child support order. This serves as a check to make sure the order has stayed within the state’s compliance guidelines. Requests for adjustments due to financial situations and other factors are permitted.<\/p>\r\n

Requesting a Modification to a New Jersey Child Support Agreement<\/h3>\r\n

Independent of the three-year review, either parent can file for a hearing to request a modification of a New Jersey child support order<\/a>. For the court to agree to a hearing, the parent filing the petition must provide proof of a substantial change in circumstances. This change should necessitate an alteration in the payment amount.<\/p>\r\n

Changes in circumstance<\/a> need to have a large effect on the parent’s life for consideration. Examples include:<\/p>\r\n