• Overview of New Jersey child support laws.Happy Children image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com
  
  New Jersey laws establish specific criteria to establish a child support obligation in the first place. Additionally, the laws of the state of New Jersey provide mechanisms through which a child support order can be enforced by the court system. Finally, there is a mechanism in place under New Jersey law that allows to an alteration of an outstanding child support order.
  
  

Child Support Guidelines

• The state of New Jersey utilizes child support guidelines to provide an objective method for computing a non-custodial parent's financial obligation in a divorce. The guidelines calculate a base child support obligation based upon a calculation of the gross income of both parents. Additional support may be ordered depending on the special circumstances of the child. For example, the base child support amount can be increased because of special medical or health needs of the child.
  
  

Enforcement

• New Jersey law establishes specific procedures to enforce a child support order and obligation. A court can suspend a person's driver's license, professional license or passport pursuant to New Jersey law for non-payment of child support. Additionally, a court has the ability to order the arrest of a parent who fails to pay child support as required by a court order. In such a situation, a parent can be placed in a jail in a work release program in order to ensure he makes child support payments.
  
  

Alteration of Child Support Order

• If a parent experiences a significant change in her financial status, a change in an outstanding child support obligation can be warranted. In order to effect an amendment of a child support order, New Jersey law offers two options: First, the parents can agree mutually on an alteration in the child support order. A court will review such a proposed change to ensure that it complies with New Jersey child support guidelines. Second, a parent can file a motion with the court seeking a modification of the child support order if there is no agreement. A court will conduct a hearing to determine whether a change in the support order is appropriate.