Your Children Deserve Financial Stability.
I Am Here to Help You Protect It.
If you are looking for a Bergen County child support lawyer who will give you clear answers and honest guidance, you are in the right place. AMG Law, LLC represents parents throughout Bergen, Passaic, and surrounding counties in all aspects of child support, including establishing initial orders, enforcing existing obligations, and seeking modifications when circumstances change. As a Bergen County child support lawyer, Ana Milena Goncalves, Esq. takes the time to understand your specific situation before giving any guidance.
How Is Child Support Calculated in New Jersey?
Child support in New Jersey is calculated using the New Jersey Child Support Guidelines established under R. 5:6A. The goal of the formula is to approximate the level of financial support a child would have received if the family had remained intact.
The calculation takes into account the following:
The gross income of both parents from all sources, including wages, bonuses, self-employment income, and investment income. If a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, the court may impute income based on that parent’s earning capacity rather than their actual earnings.
The number of overnights the child spends with each parent. If the non-custodial parent has 104 or more overnights per year, the court uses the shared parenting worksheet, which may result in an adjusted support calculation.
Mandatory deductions from income such as federal and state taxes, mandatory retirement contributions, and union dues.
Child-specific expenses including work-related childcare costs, the child’s health insurance premiums, and unreimbursed medical expenses.
Prior court-ordered support obligations for other legal dependents.
When the guidelines would produce an unjust or inappropriate result, the court has discretion to deviate from the formula and consider the child’s needs, the family’s standard of living, and the assets of each party.
Does It Matter If the Parents Were Never Married?
No. In New Jersey, the obligation to support a child exists regardless of whether the parents were ever married. Every parent has a legal obligation to contribute to their child’s financial support.
Child support can be established through a voluntary agreement or through a court order. In cases where paternity is disputed, it may need to be legally established before a support order can be entered.
As your Bergen County child support lawyer, Ana Milena Goncalves, Esq. can help you understand how to proceed whether you are seeking to establish a support order for the first time or enforce one that already exists.
What Happens If a Parent Does Not Pay Child Support?
Under N.J.S.A. 2A:17-56.23a, each child support payment becomes a judgment by operation of law on the date it is due and cannot be retroactively modified by the court. If circumstances change but no formal motion is filed, arrears continue to accumulate and are fully enforceable.
If the other parent is not meeting their support obligations, you have legal options. AMG Law, LLC can help you file a motion to enforce the order and pursue available remedies under New Jersey law, including wage garnishment, suspension of licenses, and other enforcement measures.
If your own circumstances have changed and you are having difficulty meeting your support obligation, it is important to act promptly. Do not stop paying without first speaking with an attorney. The correct step is to file a motion to modify the order as soon as possible. Arrears that accumulate before a modification is granted cannot be eliminated retroactively.
Can a Child Support Order Be Modified?
Yes. A child support order in New Jersey can be modified if there has been a substantial change in circumstances since the original order was entered. Examples include a significant increase or decrease in either parent’s income, a change in the child’s needs, a change in the parenting time arrangement, or a change in childcare or healthcare costs.
It is critical to file a formal motion with the court before reducing or stopping payments on your own. Under New Jersey law, arrears that accumulate before a modification order is entered remain fully enforceable.
AMG Law, LLC assists clients throughout Bergen, Passaic, and surrounding counties with motions to modify child support and defenses against modification requests filed by the other party. If you are searching for a Bergen County child support lawyer to help with a modification, Ana Milena Goncalves, Esq. can walk you through your options.
What About Health Insurance and Other Expenses?
Child support in New Jersey addresses more than basic weekly or biweekly payments. The court also allocates responsibility for the child’s health insurance and establishes how unreimbursed medical expenses are shared between the parents, typically in proportion to their respective incomes.
Childcare costs related to a parent’s employment or education are factored into the support calculation. Extraordinary expenses such as private school tuition or costs related to a child’s special needs may be addressed separately depending on the circumstances.
Understanding the full scope of your support obligation, or the support you are entitled to receive, requires looking at the complete financial picture. Ana Milena Goncalves, Esq. takes the time to make sure every client understands exactly what is included in their order and what is not.
Have Questions About Child Support in Bergen County?
Every family’s situation is different. The best way to understand your options is to speak with a Bergen County child support lawyer who knows the local courts and the New Jersey guidelines. Ana Milena Goncalves, Esq. takes the time to understand your specific circumstances before giving any guidance.
Why Bergen County Clients Choose AMG Law, LLC for Child Support Matters
Child support disputes can be financially and emotionally draining. At AMG Law, LLC, clients receive dedicated, personalized attention from start to finish. Ana Milena Goncalves, Esq. brings civil litigation experience, focused family law practice, and a clear understanding of the New Jersey Child Support Guidelines to every case she handles.
She represents both the parent seeking support and the parent responding to a support request. Whatever your position, you deserve someone in your corner who understands the law and the stakes.
Se habla español. AMG Law, LLC provides bilingual child support representation throughout Bergen County including Paramus, Hackensack, Fort Lee, and Englewood, and throughout Passaic County including Paterson and Clifton.
Ready to Take the First Step?
If you are also navigating a divorce, my divorce page covers how child support is addressed as part of your overall case. Working with a Bergen County child support lawyer early in the process can make a significant difference in the outcome for your family. Contact AMG Law, LLC to schedule your consultation, virtual or in person.
or call 201-474-5454