Providing for the emotional, physical and financial well-being of children can be enough of a challenge for New Jersey parents who are married. When that relationship ends, that does not mean that the parents are not still obligated to provide for their children together. Children need both of their parents in order to maintain the stability and security they enjoyed during the marriage, which is why custody and child support issues are intertwined.
Creating a parenting plan that works best for the whole family is essential. An agreement can be negotiated that allows the children as much access as possible to both parents. The bond that each parent has with the children do not have to be broken just because the marriage is ending. In fact, many would say that those bonds can become even stronger with the right cooperation of the parties both during the divorce and as the children grow.
Once the parenting plan is completed, child support can be negotiated between the parties or decided by the court. In either case, it is imperative that the New Jersey state guidelines are followed. The major factors used to determine child support are the gross incomes of both parents, the amount of time each parent will spend with the child and any medical or educational needs of the children. Other extraordinary expenses might also be considered, if there are any.
Negotiating your own agreements regarding the children is encouraged since there is much more flexibility in tailoring them to the needs of your family. The combination of a parenting plan and a child support agreement will provide for the well-being of your children after the divorce. As long as any agreements reached by the parties do not violate current law or public policy, they should be approved by the court.