What to Expect at a New Jersey Child Support Meeting
Before even getting to a meeting with other parties about determining child support, it is essential that you consult legal counsel. Navigating the child support, custody, and divorce process can be very difficult without help from an attorney who has experience handling cases like yours. From that initial consultation with a local lawyer, you could discuss your situation and start learning about what to expect at a New Jersey child support meeting.
First Considerations in Child Support Calculation
The first considerations will be the income of each party, the regular expenses of raising the child, and the distribution of responsibility amongst the parents or guardians. Recurring expenses such as medical insurance, food, clothing, payment for shelter, and other necessities will be considered in the support calculations. Unusual expenses such as for special needs must be taken into consideration.
Key documents to bring to a child support meeting would be a person’s W2s, the most recent tax returns with the attachments, the last three pay stub, proof of what the health insurance costs are, and proof of payment for any other necessities. And those would be the documents that a New Jersey child support attorney would need in order to determine the child support.
How Long Does the Process Take After a Meeting?
The process of determining child support can be quite lengthy and complicated. There is no set time for the length of a child support meeting or the determination process. It all depends on the amount of material to cover and the complexity of the situation. If every aspect runs neatly along with the state child support guidelines, then it may be fairly straightforward.
However, if there are additional concerns or there is conflict, the process will likely be longer. The courts are supposed to finish cases within six months, but hopefully sooner than that. The process overall is about filing the correct paperwork with the court after an agreement has been reached.
Parents should expect negotiation between their attorney, their child’s other parent, and their legal counsel at a child support meeting. This process could be smooth and quick, or it could be extremely difficult.
Let an Attorney Guide You Through Your New Jersey Child Support Meetings
It is assumed that parents will continue to pay for their child’s needs according to the status quo until a final child support agreement is reached. In the interim, the court may also assign a temporary child support amount so that the child does not go without financial support. Lasting anywhere between two and six months, the process of determining and ratifying a child support arrangement is complex and can be difficult to navigate without applicable experience.
The whole process begins with an initial meeting between you and your attorney. Knowing what to expect at a New Jersey child support meeting could help you better prepare for the road ahead and to seek the resolution your family and children deserve. To learn more about what steps you can take, call our attorneys right away and schedule an initial consultation.
