New Jersey Child Support Payments

By Kit Yona, M.A. | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq. | Last reviewed February 21, 2025

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Parents must provide for their children's needs regardless of whether they're together. In New Jersey, the non-custodial parent (NPC) usually pays child support to the custodial parent. This is to meet the child's needs, which include food, clothing, and health insurance.

State law mandates that the New Jersey Family Support Payment Center (NJFSPC) collect and process all child support payments. Child support payments usually get deducted from the non-custodial parent's paycheck. This makes it easier for the non-custodial parent to fulfill their child support obligation.

Since the custodial parent usually takes care of the children, it's important that they receive payments on a regular schedule.

This article examines how the court determines child support payment amounts, what optional payment methods exist, and what the NJFSPC can and can't do.

New Jersey Child Support Payments: Who Pays and How Much

A New Jersey court order issues child support payment amounts. Calculating how much to pay is complex and determined on a case-by-case basis. New Jersey offers a child support payment calculator online, but this is only to determine an estimate of the NPC's financial responsibility.

One main determining factor is whether the case is sole parenting or shared parenting.

  • Sole parenting features a custodial parent who cares for the children at least five nights a week. This is often a result of a child custody ruling. The NPC must make child support payments.
  • Shared parenting is when each parent has the children for at least two nights a week on average. This system considers the time the children spend with each parent when determining who pays child support and how much.

Different worksheets are used to determine child support payments for sole and shared parenting.

New Jersey uses the income shares system for determining child support payments. It uses the gross income of both parents, regardless of which one pays child support. The standard of well-being for the children, known as marginal cost estimation, is determined using the Rothbarth and Engel standards (Appendix IX-A (7d)).

The court will use this information and the Basic Child Support Award Schedule to determine the final child support payment total. The court will also apply other factors, such as other child support payments and medical expenses. Custodial parents can file a child support payment application online.

New Jersey Child Support: Making Payments

New Jersey's primary concern with child support is meeting the best interests of the child. Meeting the basic necessities is of paramount importance. One way the state accomplishes this is by taking the payments out of the hands of the NPC.

In most cases, employers deduct the amount of child support from the NPC's paycheck and send it to the NJFSCP. It's then sent to the custodial parent. NPCs can use other options for payments. Some may charge service fees.

New Jersey switches into enforcement mode if an NPC falls into arrears for non-payment of child support. This includes garnishing the NPC's tax refunds and lottery winnings. The state can also suspend their driver's license.

New Jersey Child Support Payment Laws: Summary

While raising children in a household with both parents is optimal, it's not always possible. Children's needs should remain the top priority in a parent's life.

The table below recaps the information on New Jersey child support payments you've learned from this article and adds links to important statutes and court rules.

New Jersey child support Title IV-D guidelines, code statutes, and rules of court

New Jersey Statutes

Title 2A — Administration of Civil and Criminal Justice

Title 9 — Children, Juvenile, and Domestic Relations Court

  • Section 9:2-10 (order for proper care of child)
  • Section 9:17-53 (judgment, order of court, certificate of parentage, amendment of birth record; amount of support)

New Jersey Rules of Court
Income withholding for child support payments in New Jersey

Child support payments are deducted from the non-custodial parent's paycheck.

  • The employer deducts the child support amount and sends it to the NJSPC.
  • The NJSPC sends the payment to the custodial parent through direct deposit into a bank account or another method

Income withholding also applies to:

  • Unemployment benefits
  • Social Security benefits
  • Disability payments
  • Any other income the parent receives

For self-employed people, the child support order determines how the NPC will pay the support.

Payment of child support to a child in a different state is often enforced at the state level, but it is also backed by federal law. Federal law also covers payments for support to a child in a different state than the NPC.
Other New Jersey child support payment options If a non-custodial parent isn't paying child support through income withholding, they must make payments through other means. Payments are submittable in several different ways:
  • Through the mail with a payment coupon (don't send cash)
  • In person at a local county office
  • Direct deductions from your bank account to NJFSPC
  • Alternate methods such as making payments with a Visa, Mastercard, or Discover credit card or debit card either online or at a physical location (often includes a service fee)
New Jersey child support payment adjustments

The court may modify a New Jersey child support order if parents' circumstances change (such as loss of employment, remarriage, adoption, etc.)

Note: New Jersey state laws change through the passage of new legislation, higher court rulings that include federal decisions, ballot initiatives, and other means. To confirm current state laws, please speak with a New Jersey family law attorney or conduct your own legal research.

New Jersey Child Support Payments: Related Resources

Having Trouble With Child Support Payments In New Jersey? Talk To an Attorney

The process for making child support payments through the New Jersey Child Support Program is meant to be convenient for the custodial and the non-custodial parents. But there are times when things go wrong. If you're having trouble making or getting child support payments, contact an experienced New Jersey child support attorney.

When meeting with a lawyer, have your case number and case information handy. A New Jersey family law attorney with experience in child support services can make sure your kids get what they need. Their legal advice can help get your case info to the right people in the child support office.

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