In New Jersey, child support is necessary. Both parents are required by law to support their children financially. So, what exactly does this entail? What expenses are covered by child support? Read on to learn more.
What Expenses Are Covered By Child Support?
Generally, child support is paid to the custodial parent, by the non-custodial parent. The custodial parent is the parent with whom the child resides for the majority of the time. As a result, this parent tends to provide more for the child when it comes to expenses like clothing, meals, housing, and so on. In order to help this parent with the child’s cost of living, the non-custodial parent will contribute child support. In New Jersey, child support should help cover the following expenses:
- Basic necessities: This applies to groceries, snacks, and meals. It also applies to clothing, though not all clothing will be covered. Some courts do not consider certain sneakers to be necessities. Additionally, some child support agreements include housing, which may apply to mortgage/rent payments, electricity, and more.
- Medical care: Child support should go toward any medical bills. The parent who has better health care benefits will generally put the child on their plan.
- Educational fees: Education is expensive. A parent may be required to contribute tuition at a private school or the various fees and expenses associated with public school. Education also refers to school uniforms, lunches, textbooks, and so on.
- Childcare: If one or both parents are unable to watch the child due to work, the child may require daycare, after-school care, babysitters, etc.
- Transportation/travel: Transportation is a necessary day-to-day expense. Child support may go toward car payments, gas, bus tickets, and so on.
- Entertainment: Child support should go toward entertainment for the child. Entertainment generally refers to things like games, computer access, etc. This also applies to outings, such as a trip to the movies or an amusement park.
- Extracurricular activities: Many children participate in activities like sports or girl/boy scouts. These activities often come with fees, which should be included in your child support agreement.
- College expenses: Often, parents are required to contribute to their child’s higher education, even if the child is past the age of emancipation.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding what is covered by child support, contact our firm today. We are here to walk you through all of your family law matters and advocate for you and your family.
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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.
