Ocean County is one of New Jersey's shore point counties. There are over 580,000 residents in the county. The county is served in all legal matters by the Ocean County Superior Court. The court handles many legal matters, including all pertaining to Family Law. Family Law cases, including child support and alimony cases, are handled within the court's Family Division. These cases can become somewhat complex depending on the situation.
Child Support In Ocean County
In Ocean County, child support must be requested in one of two ways. For parents who have sole custody of a child, they must file a Sole Parenting Worksheet. Parents who have shared custody of a child will be required to file for child support using a Shared Parenting Worksheet. Because New Jersey law expects both parents to support the child, a child support order is determined based upon the net income of both parents. Even though both parents are expected to support the child, a sole parent may end up receiving more for child support due to the greater responsibility for the child. Any special needs for the child, such as those pertaining to the child's physical and mental health, will also be factored into the support order. Although child support is frequently discussed as a part of a divorce, so long as there is a custody order or proven paternity, child support may be requested.
Alimony In Ocean County
There are several forms of alimony available to divorced spouses in Ocean County. Each form of alimony is situational and dependent on the case itself. One form of alimony typically assigned by the court is alimony pendente lite (APL), sometimes called temporary alimony. This form supports a spouse during the divorce process. Another form is limited duration alimony, which is given to spouses after a divorce for a limited time to support them for a brief period of time. This will typically expire once a spouse can support themselves. Permanent alimony is assigned in cases where a spouse has sacrificed significant career or educational opportunities in an effort to preserve the marriage. Reimbursement alimony is assigned to cases where a spouse helped their partner through education, but as a result of the divorce was unable to receive any of the potential benefits of that education. Rehabilitative alimony is meant to help former spouses through rehabilitative care for substance abuse. Alimony decisions are based upon several factors, some common ones include: age of the spouses, duration of the marriage, and income of the spouses. The court will also factor in the degree of "fault" in a fault divorce case.
Contact a New Jersey Family Law Attorney Today
If you or a loved one is involved in alimony or child support proceedings in Ocean County, New Jersey, contact attorney Joseph D. Lento today.
