New Jersey Child Support Calculator

New Jersey uses the income shares model under N.J. Court Rule 5:6A and the Appendix IX-F guidelines. Both parents' weekly net incomes are combined to determine a basic child support obligation from the guidelines schedule. That obligation is divided proportionally based on each parent's share of the combined income. Additional costs such as childcare and health insurance are added. NJ calculates on a weekly basis, then converts to a payment schedule.

Net income in New Jersey is gross income minus mandatory deductions. Gross income includes wages, salaries, bonuses, commissions, self-employment income, pensions, Social Security, unemployment benefits, disability, workers' compensation, interest, dividends, rental income, and alimony received. Deductions include federal and state taxes, Social Security and Medicare (FICA), mandatory pension contributions, mandatory union dues, and previously ordered child or spousal support payments.

In New Jersey, shared parenting is recognized when the non-custodial parent has the child for approximately 28% or more of the overnights per year (about 103+ overnights). When shared parenting applies, the court adjusts the support obligation to account for the increased direct spending by the non-custodial parent during their parenting time, typically resulting in a reduced support payment.

Yes, either parent can file a motion to modify child support when there has been a change in circumstances. Common grounds include substantial changes in income, changes in parenting time arrangements, changes in the child's needs, changes in childcare or medical costs, emancipation of a child, or cost of living changes. New Jersey courts will recalculate support using the current guidelines and financial information.

In New Jersey, child support continues until the child is emancipated. While there is no automatic termination age, the law presumes emancipation at age 19. However, support may continue beyond 19 if the child is still in high school, attending college full-time, is disabled, or is otherwise dependent. Either parent can file a motion to emancipate the child or to extend support beyond age 19.

Yes. Under New Jersey's guidelines, work-related childcare costs and the cost of health or dental insurance for the child are added to the basic child support obligation before it is divided between the parents. Each parent pays their proportional share of these additional costs based on their share of the combined net income.

This calculator provides an estimate based on the New Jersey child support guidelines. Actual court-ordered support may differ because judges have discretion to deviate from the guidelines based on factors such as the needs of the child, the standard of living during the marriage, the parents' earning capacity, the child's age, extraordinary expenses, and other relevant considerations under N.J.S.A. 2A:34-23. Consult a New Jersey family law attorney for an accurate assessment.