When am I Allowed to Stop Paying Child Support in New Jersey?

One of the most hotly contested issues in New Jersey divorce matters is the length of time you will be required to pay child support. If you believe your child no longer requires financial support, you are most likely wondering whether you can have child support terminated. Child support is a complex issue, which is why you should not proceed without the assistance of an experienced New Jersey family law attorney. Please read on to learn more about child support in New Jersey and whether you have a shot at having your regular child support payments terminated.

When does my obligation to pay child support in New Jersey terminate?

Generally speaking, child support will terminate once your child is considered emancipated, which under New Jersey law, occurs when a child graduates high school, gets married, enters the military, or passes away. However, if your child chooses to attend a school of higher education, such as college or trade school, he or she is not considered emancipated until his or her four-year education is completed. Furthermore, if your child has a disability or special needs, the court has the ability to extend your obligation to pay child support.

Am I required to pay for my child’s college education in New Jersey?

In many cases, parents will agree to contribute to the cost of their child’s college education without court intervention. However, in certain cases, parents may be legally obligated to pay for their child’s higher education, whether or not they want to pay. If you and your former spouse cannot agree on who has to pay for your child’s college, the Court or an Arbitrator may need to intervene. Whether you have to pay for your child’s college depends on a wide variety of factors, including the following:

  • Whether you as the parent, if still living with the child, would have contributed toward the cost of the requested higher education;
  • The effect of both parents’ background, values, and goals on the reasonable expectation that the child would pursue higher education;
  • The amount of money your child needs to attend school
  • Your child’s financial resources The availability of financial aid
  • Whether you are financially capable of paying for your child’s schooling
  • What school your child seeks to attend
  • Both you and your former spouse’s ability to pay for your child’s education
  • Your child’s degree of commitment towards pursuing higher education
  • Any other factor the court deems relevant

Contact our experienced New Jersey firm

We understand how confusing certain legal issues can be, which is why we are dedicated to providing individuals with the compassionate, knowledgeable legal representation they deserve. Aronsohn, Weiner, Salerno & Kaufman has helped clients with various difficult legal challenges for over 40 years, which is why we know we have the experience needed to do the same for you. For experienced legal counsel regarding family law, litigation, business law, real estate, and criminal law, you know where to turn–contact Aronsohn, Weiner, Salerno & Kaufman today to schedule a consultation.