If you had a child with someone but did not get married and you have decided to split up, you may be wondering about the legal aspects of your situation. How do child support and child custody work for those who have not been married? This is a rather common situation, and New Jersey courts have a system in place in order to determine these arrangements for unmarried parents. Read on to learn more about child custody and child support in New Jersey.
How Is Custody Determined for Unmarried Parents in New Jersey?
Unmarried parents who are looking to obtain custody of their child need to be aware of the differences in New Jersey custody law. When facing these situations, these parents are able to enter a non-dissolution “FD” case. This allows parents the right to the following:
- Establish legal paternity for the child
- Establish legal custody orders for a minor
- Enforce child support or alimony payments
- Create a parenting time court order for biological parents
- Set grandparent/adult sibling visitation orders
In order to achieve these things, you should speak with an experienced family law attorney who can walk you through the process.
How is Child Support Determined for Unmarried Parents?
New Jersey courts are looking out for the child’s best interests. New Jersey operates under the policy that children have a right to financial support from both parents, regardless of the relationship status of the parents. This means that children are entitled to share in the current income of both parents, which is reflected in child support determinations. For unmarried parents, the New Jersey Child Support Guidelines are used to determine child support.
These guidelines apply to parties with a combined net income between $170 and $3,600 per week. There are several factors that are also considered along with the guidelines. Some of these include:
- The income and assets of each parent
- The earning capacity of the child
- The age and health of the child, and any special needs they may have
- Debts and liabilities of each child and parent
- The custody arrangement
- The child’s need for further education
If you have any questions or concerns regarding child support for unmarried parents, contact our firm today.
Contact our Firm
Ross and Calandrillo, LLC is a full-service divorce, family, and real estate law firm located in Mountainside, New Jersey. For strong legal representation in all of your divorce or family law matters, contact Ross and Calandrillo, LLC to schedule a consultation.
