Middlesex County Alimony and Child Support Attorney

Child support and alimony are related and significant issues in many divorces. Both parents are responsible to contributed toward the support of their children, and in based on the circumstances, one spouse may be required to pay alimony to the other spouse. The amount and duration of both alimony and child support are subject to negotiation or court order.  Before entering into any agreement on these issues, it is wise to engage the help of an experienced family law attorney to ensure that the amounts paid are fair.

At Nemergut & Duff, our lawyers have 75 combined years of legal experience. One of the partners, Howard Duff, is also a board-certified matrimonial attorney by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. We have the knowledge and skill to counsel you and defend your rights in child support and alimony disputes or help you request modifications to existing orders.

Contact an Edison child support attorney today to schedule a free initial consultation. Please call our law office directly at 732-636-3400 to learn how we can help.

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Calculating Child Support

Like most states, New Jersey has created child support guidelines which determine each parent’s percentage contribution to the expenses of their children.  For most families, this fairly rigid formula is used to determine child support amounts; however, it is important that the correct income information is put into the formula to assure the correct result. Because child support is based upon established guidelines, our attorneys can usually calculate your specific child support payments at our first meeting.

Whether setting child support for the first time or modifying it based on changed circumstances, New Jersey’s child support formula takes into account:

  • The number and ages of the children
  • Both parents’ gross incomes
  • Mandatory retirement contribution, union dues, the cost for the children’s health insurance
  • Any child support obligations that a parent may have toward children from a different relationship
  • Alimony payments made to a dependant spouse

In addition to a basic child support amount, parents are required to share in day care and health care expenses.  Parents may also be required to share the costs of school and/or extracurricular activities.

Determining Alimony and Spousal Support

Unlike with child support, New Jersey has not adopted a formula for determining alimony payments. However, the court will take 12 factors into consideration, including the length of the marriage, the ages of both parties, the marital standard of living and the disparity of income. Except in very rare circumstances, marital infidelity or another misbehavior does not affect alimony payments.

The court may award different types of alimony, or a combination of different types, including:

  • Limited duration — Applies to marriages or civil unions under 20 years.The amount and duration depend on a number of factors including the length of the marriage and the disparity between the parties’ incomes.
  • Rehabilitative —  Applies to situations where one party needs time or training to develop the job skills that will allow him or her to increase their income.
  • Open duration –This applies to marriages of over 20 years.  As with all forms of alimony, the court will evaluate all relevant factors in determining the amount of alimony.  Open duration alimony will generally continue until the supporting spouse retires at a reasonable age.  Full social security age is presumed to be a reasonable age to retire, although this varies depending on the circumstances.
  • Reimbursement —  Applies to situations where one spouse supported another through graduate or professional school.

Contact a Middlesex County Alimony and Spousal Support Attorney

Talk to an experienced Woodbridge child custody attorney about your specific child support or alimony concerns. Arrange a no-cost, confidential consultation by calling our office at 732-636-3400. We return phone calls the same day.