Many people believe that child support agreements end when a child turns 18. They are an adult, so they don’t need support anymore, right? That’s not really how this works though. Our Morris County, NJ child support attorneys can tell you why most agreements last longer.
When Can Child Support Agreements Be Extended?
Child support agreements actually last until the child turns 19 in New Jersey. They can last for more time though. It is common for child support arrangements to get extended when:
- The child is still in high school
- The child is enrolling in college or another educational program
- The child is disabled and will continue to need assistance
Sometimes parents make their own agreement to keep a child support arrangement going. In other cases, one parent takes the other to court in order to ask for more support. Because so many children choose to continue their education after high school and it can be quite difficult for them to live independently at 18, few child support agreements are actually going to end when the child reaches that age.
If a child is pursuing their education, the parent paying child support will continue making payments, but there could be rules attached. A student might be required to be enrolled full-time. They might have to show that they sought out all forms of financial aid or that they secured a part-time job that can help them pay for some of their own expenses.
Can Child Support Agreements Be Modified?
Child support agreements can also be modified. Depending on life circumstances, the paying parent could end up being asked to pay more or they could ask to modify the agreement and pay less. Some factors that could affect your agreement include:
- Inheritances
- Changes in income
- Job loss or promotion
- The development of a medical condition or disability
- One parent’s new marriage
- Additional children being born
If you think that there is a good reason to modify your agreement or end it, you should address that in court. Just don’t stop paying your currently agreed-upon support payments. That can get you in trouble.
What Happens if a Child Has a Disability?
Child support agreements generally have to be extended to at least the age of 23 when a child has a disability. After that point, it is often a good idea for the parents to get together to figure out the best way to meet their child’s needs. Making your own arrangement outside of the traditional child support structure might be your best plan.
Contact Our Family Law Attorneys
Whenever parents have questions about their child support arrangements, we are happy to help them. Whether you want to modify an existing agreement or negotiate some kind of extension with your former spouse, we want to hear from you. Contact Townsend, Tomaio & Newmark, L.L.C. to schedule your consultation today.
