Teaneck Child Support Lawyer
All children in Teaneck deserve the best chance to grow up with their needs met. When the parents of that child live together, the law presumes that both parents are contributing equally to the child’s wellbeing. However, when the parents have never lived together, or are currently going through the process of divorce or separation, they must make proper arrangements for the care and custody of children.
A major part of these arrangements is child support. When parenting time and the child’s living situation is altered, there is a need for financial adjustments. The parent holding the lesser amount of parenting time generally must pay child support to the other. However, not every child support plan is equal, and courts have broad powers to use their judgment when issuing these orders. A Teaneck child support lawyer can help parents to fight for the child support plans that are right and fair for them and their children. Speak to a dedicated local family law attorney today to discover your legal options.
The Legal Basis for Child Support
The law says that every parent has an equal obligation to care for the welfare of their children. This includes providing a roof over a child’s head, clothing, food, and other necessities. In the eyes of the law, this burden falls equally when the parents live together. However, anytime that the parents do not share the same home, the law takes an interest in ensuring the financial welfare of a child.
Anytime that parents split, one may petition the court to consider the question of child support. This applies equally if the parents were never married or have ever lived together. Perhaps the most common time that a court considers child support is during a divorce. Nevertheless, the court will always evaluate the same factors when issuing a child support order.
New Jersey Revised Statute §2A:34-23 lists a variety of factors that a court will consider when issuing an order for child support. These include:
- The specific financial needs of the child
- The sources and stability of income for both parents
- The educational needs of the child
- The debts and liabilities of both parents
- The standard of living and economic situations of the family
Ultimately, the court will make a decision that is in the best interests of the child. A child support attorney can help to convince a Teaneck court that a party’s interests align with those of their child.
Working to Ensure Proper Adherence to Child Support Orders
Once a child support order goes into effect, it carries the full weight of the law. A paying parent must continue to make regular, on-time payments until the child reaches 19 years of age or ends their education. A failure to make payments may result in the payment of civil fines, the suspension of a driver’s license, or even a jail term.
Of course, it is in the best interests of all parties to ensure proper payments. One way is to ask the court to modify an existing order. This may be possible if substantial changes have occurred, rendering a standing order unfair. These can include a child having new medical needs, a parent obtaining a new job, or a custodial parent having more children.
A local child support attorney can help Teaneck parents to ensure the continued fairness of child support orders. This can include filing complaints that allege nonpayment and working to defend parents who face these allegations. They can also determine whether pursuing a modification of a child support order may help to prevent these issues of nonpayment.
A Teaneck Child Support Lawyer May be Able to Help
Providing for the needs of a child is at the forefront of any family law or custody matter. Whether a case asking for child support arises at the request of one parent or is the product of an ongoing divorce, the courts must always act in the best interests of the child.
A local family attorney can help you to convince the court that your desires and the needs of your child are the same. They can even work towards modifying an existing order or handle allegations of nonpayment. Contact a Teaneck child support lawyer today to let them get to work for you and your child.
