Are You Entitled to Child Support in a Domestic Partnership in NJ?
In New Jersey, child support is a legal obligation for both parents, regardless of their marital status. Whether you were married, in a domestic partnership, or even had a brief relationship, the responsibility to financially support your child remains the same. When a couple is not married but shares a child together, getting financial support is a little more complicated but it is possible.
Under New Jersey law, it is the responsibility of both parents to financially support their child. This means making sure they have food to eat, shelter, and clothes to wear. This law applies whether the parents are currently married or were married in the past.
When it comes to child support, relationship status is not a factor. If you never married your child’s father or were in a domestic partnership with them (without marriage), they must still pay child support. Even if you had a fling or a one-night stand, the financial obligation to support a child still applies.
New Jersey laws regarding child support are strict. State and federal laws combine to help ensure that both parents provide financial, medical, and emotional support for their children.
Families come in all shapes and sizes, and so do child support agreements. If you have a child, you may be eligible to seek child support. Conversely, you may be required to pay it. A lawyer can help you come up with a plan that fits your needs.
When the Parents are Unmarried
You may think of child support as something that is paid for as part of a divorce settlement. However, a divorce is not a prerequisite for payment or receipt of child support. That is because, in New Jersey, child support is a child’s right. It is not a parent’s right.
The state of New Jersey has determined that children are entitled to financial support from both parents. The family court allows any parent to apply for (or to pay) financial support on behalf of a child, regardless of the parent’s relationship status.
Child support amounts are not based on the parent’s relationship. If you and the other parent never married, that does not make a difference. New Jersey child support guidelines are formulated based on income or the amount of financial support each parent would provide to a child if they both lived in the same household.
Child support must be paid for children under the age of 18. New Jersey child support guidelines apply in terms of monthly payment amounts, although you and the other parent could also come to an agreement on your own.
Contact Our Cherry Hill Child Support Lawyer Today
If you are a custodial parent, you want to have the financial support to provide for your children’s needs. If you are a noncustodial parent, you want to support your children without straining your finances.
No matter what side you are on, you will need the assistance of a strong yet caring family law attorney. That is where a Cherry Hill lawyer from Fiore Law comes in. We can help you get an accurate idea of what you can expect to pay or receive in child support. Call (856) 214-8964 to schedule a consultation.