Cumberland County is home to over 150,000 residents. The county is in the southern reaches of New Jersey. Overseeing all matters of law in the county is the Cumberland County Superior Court. Matters of Family Law are resolved in the court's Family Division. This includes motions for child support and alimony. Although these are commonly associated with and filed along with divorce, child support can be filed on its own.
Child Support Cases In Cumberland County
One of the most important aspects handled when a family goes through custody proceedings is the determination of child support. Child support can be filed in one of two ways in Cumberland County. For parents with sole custody, a Sole Parenting Worksheet may be used to make the filing. For parents who have a shared custody agreement, the filing can be made with a Shared Parenting Worksheet. New Jersey sets specific guidelines for determining what child support amounts are due between parents. The most weighted factor in determining child support is income. While both parents are expected to support the child, typically, a sole custody parent will have a greater expectation of caretaking for the child, as they spend more time with the child. This means that a sole parent may receive higher amounts for child support. Both parents' income will be considered, along with any net expenses and living costs. This includes any special medical needs a child may have. Child support can be discussed so long as there is a custody order, or paternity has been proven; it does not need to be brought up with a divorce case.
Alimony Cases In Cumberland County
Alimony is a form of financial support paid by one spouse to another during divorce proceedings or following them. Cumberland County has several forms of alimony available. Each form is dependent on the situation and will depend on the circumstances of the divorce. It is incredibly common to see alimony pendente lite (APL), also known as temporary alimony. This form of alimony is meant to support spouses through the actual divorce proceedings, and often expires once the divorce is finalized. Another common form is limited duration alimony, which supports the spouse after the divorce, until they are able to support themselves. Uncommon forms of alimony include reimbursement alimony, rehabilitative alimony, and permanent alimony. Reimbursement alimony is support paid to spouses who helped their spouse through their education, but divorced before receiving any benefit from that education. Rehabilitative alimony is for spouses who must undergo substance abuse rehabilitation. Finally, permanent alimony is assigned to spouses who sacrificed career and education opportunities to hold the marriage together. Alimony is based off a number of factors, some of which include the ages of the spouses, the duration of the marriage, and any "fault" in a fault divorce scenario.
Contact a New Jersey Family Law Attorney
If you or a loved one is involved in child support or alimony proceedings in Cumberland County, New Jersey, contact attorney Joseph D. Lento today.
