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Using Mediation To Arrive At Reasonable Child Support Arrangements

Last updated on October 20, 2022

At Tournour Law, our attorney, Frank Tournour, has over 30 years of experience with family law problems including separation, divorce and mediation. He has been helping clients negotiate child support payments and arrangements from our East Brunswick office since 1999.

Using Mediation In Divorce To Reach An Agreement

Mediation is a form of alternative dispute resolution. When parents are willing to cooperate and work together towards a divorce settlement, mediation is a great way to reach an agreement. Mediation allows private family matters to get resolved out of court by the parties themselves. In some cases, family law courts even require parents to go through the process of mediation in an attempt to resolve some, if not all of the contested issues in a divorce. Cases that go through mediation often get resolved faster and with less costs. It also offers a solutions-focused approach where parties collaborate together. This discourages fighting and helps both parties feel better about the outcome, which can help parties move forward together as co-parents after a divorce.

New Jersey Child Support Calculator

New Jersey, like other states, applies state calculation methods to determine child support amounts. New Jersey’s state calculator takes into account factors such as the following when arriving at minimum child support figures.

  • Spousal incomes
  • The ages of the children
  • Payment and/or receipt of alimony or spousal support
  • The amount of time that the child(ren) spend with each parent

It can be helpful to seek legal advice when using New Jersey’s child support calculator. Accurately determining the income of both parents can be complicated. An experienced attorney can help assess all of the factors that the court takes into consideration to determine child support, especially when both parents are willing to work together through mediation.

Mediating Other Child-Related Expenses

Not all child support issues can be addressed through the state’s calculator. For example, extracurricular activities, transportation costs and college expenses add up. Furthermore, many children remain in their parents’ households beyond age 18. Many parents have other things to negotiate beyond the minimum required child support in connection with a separation or divorce.

Making decisions about child support decisions are a major part of many divorces. Negotiations, mediation or litigation may be necessary to arrive at answers that will translate to an enforceable court order. Tournour Law advises and represents separating and divorcing parents through mediation and other legal processes.

Get Guidance And Support With Child Support Mediation

We can prepare you for child support mediation and counsel you through the process. Attorney referrals are also welcome. Our attorney, Frank E. Tournour, is ready to handle the child support mediation part of any family law case in New Jersey. To schedule a consultation, call 732-913-3634 or send us an email message.