Welcome to website for the Lawrence H. Bloom, Esq. firm. This Child Support page provides information regarding New York and New Jersey’s Child Support laws and the factors used to determine eligibility and payments. With more than 30 years of successful experience in Family Law, we have effectively handled domestic matters related to divorce, division of assets, alimony, child support orders, custody and visitation. Many families have benefited from our help in establishing legal parenthood for a child, collection of support payments, changes to existing court orders, and support issues that involve other states. We believe that every child is entitled to physical, financial and emotional support, just as we believe that every parent has an obligation to ensure that these needs are met. Our legal professionals use our expertise in Federal and state child support laws to ensure that parents do not shirk their responsibility, and that the parent with physical custody of the child is able to provide for their needs. The Lawrence H. Bloom firm has the resources to gather information that is relevant to your case and to vigorously represent your child’s best interests.
The child support enforcement program was established by Congress to require all states to enact laws and establish procedures regarding paternity, child support payments and collection. Payments are generally made by one parent (usually the “non-custodial” parent) to another parent for support of their common child. A Child Support Order is the legal document specifying payment amount and schedule, and is always part of a divorce decree or paternity judgment.
In New York, parents are considered financially obligated until their children reach the age of 21; in New Jersey parents are responsible until the child reaches 18 (with certain exceptions). This financial duty holds true regardless of whether the child’s parents live apart, never lived together, or were never married. In addition to the standard payment set by the court, support may also include childcare costs, uninsured medical and education expenses, and other costs approved by the Court, such as private schooling, special needs of gifted or disabled children, and visitation transportation expenses.
Several factors are used to determine the amount of child support including the respective income of parents, the amount of time the children spend with each parent, the needs of the children and the standard of living prior to the divorce (or separation).
Any parent, guardian or caretaker of a child for whom support is needed is entitled to apply for child support. Paternity becomes an issue in child support cases where the alleged father claims that the child is not his. In these cases, genetic or DNA tests are performed and if the test scores 95% or higher – the law establishes him as the father and responsible for support. Once paternity is proven, the father may owe support payments retroactive to the date when the child was born.
If you are currently involved in a child support dispute or foresee one, please contact our office today. By using demonstrated legal strategies, evidence and aggressive negotiating, the Lawrence H. Bloom firm can help to strengthen and enhance your child support case and address your custody concerns. Call us in New York at (212) 964-3502 or New Jersey at (201) 925-8148. We can also be reached via email at Larry@divorcebybloom.com.
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