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Can Child Support Payments Be Changed to Help Repay School Tuition Costs?

Posted by Joseph D. Lento | Jun 17, 2024 | 0 Comments

Family disputes that arise out of divorce proceedings can be complicated. But when soon-to-be ex-spouses have minor children, navigating the complexities can be even more daunting. State guidelines apply to custody, child support, and other issues, helping divorced couples make informed decisions to protect their interests — and those of their young children.

Once child custody orders are determined, one parent will be legally considered a non-custodial parent and the other a custodial parent.

For New Jersey families, a non-custodial parent (or the obligor) is forced tomake court-ordered payments, providing financial assistance to the custodial parent to help cover the expenses required to raise their child(ren).

If you or a loved one needs legal representation related to a child support claim in New Jersey, call our reliable team today at 888-535-3686 or fill out a contact form so we can learn more about your case.

How Child Support Is Determined

State-specific formulas inform child support payment calculations, using variables such as custodial schedules and the respective income of each parent. In New Jersey, child support is legally required until the minor child is 19 years old, covering everything from basic necessities and medical care to extracurricular activities and school tuition.

But what happens when the court mandates that a child attend a school that one of the ex-spouses doesn't agree with?

New Jersey Family Court and School Choices & Fees

This is a particularly common problem in New Jersey Family Court when parents divorce before their children reach school age. What's more, navigating the path toward an equitable agreement may involve determining how tuition is factored into child support payments and identifying any additional fees owed during matriculation.

School uniforms, textbooks, and private tutors may increase the cost of sending a child to a specific school, for example. These considerations should be part of the comprehensive determination of what a reasonable monthly child support payment looks like.

Even then, the non-custodial parent may be in a position to request repayment for school tuition and related fees. While it's not always an easy process, child support payments can be modified in some circumstances.

Seeking Repayment Through Child Support Deductions

In a lawsuit initiated by Fast & Furious's Tyrese Gibson, the actor claimed his ex-wife — the custodial parent of their young daughter — owed him half of the court-ordered tuition payments he'd proactively covered for the past three academic years.

Gibson requested that the court allow him to collect repayment through child support deductions. If granted, Gibson's monthly child support payment would be reduced by $5,000 a month until the debt has been repaid.

What Does This Mean for New Jersey Families?

Co-parenting after a divorce can be difficult. Even when both parents prioritize the children's best interests and play an active role in their lives, decisions around custody arrangements and child support in New Jersey can feel exhausting. At the Lento Law Firm, our skilled Family Law Team has the heart and determination to get the results you need.

How the Lento Law Firm Family Law Team Can Help

Whether you're a parent looking to reduce your monthly child support payments related to tuition fees, or you're the custodial parent to whom support is being paid, we can help protect your rights.

When the Lento Law Firm Family Law Team provides guidance through New Jersey child support issues, you can make time for what matters most: your child's well-being. To schedule a confidential consultation today, contact our Family Law Team at 888-535-3686 or fill out a contact form.

About the Author

Joseph D. Lento

"I pride myself on having heart and driving hard to get results!" Attorney Joseph D. Lento is a veteran of one of the nation's busiest family courts with nearly 20 years' experience passionately helping families. By day, he worked in the trenches of family court, and at night, he studied the law. He helped countless families while working at family court, and he went on to become an attorney, dedicating his law practice to continuing the work he started years earlier. Mr. Lento's experience both behind the scenes and on the front lines allows him to understand a client's family law matter from all angles, and allows him to find and employ the most effective strategies to get favorable outcomes for any client. Joseph D. Lento is licensed in New Jersey and New York, and is admitted pro hac vice as needed nationwide. In the courtroom and in life, attorney Joseph D. Lento stands up when the bell rings! He does not settle for the easiest outcome, and instead prioritizes his clients' needs and protects their interests.

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Attorney Joseph D. Lento has more than a decade of experience practicing Family Law in New Jersey. If you are having any uncertainties about what the future may hold for you and your family, contact our offices today. Family Law Attorney Joseph Lento will go above and beyond the needs for any client and fight for what is fair.

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