Calculating Child Support Using Mediation for Divorce

As a Divorce Mediator in NJ, it is my job to help client couples come to fair and equitable agreements surrounding the four main areas of divorce: parenting plans, equitable distribution, child support and spousal support (also known as alimony).  And while parenting plans can be decided by the parents and the equitable distribution of your assets and liabilities and spousal support / alimony can be agreed upon by adults, there is one area when using mediation for divorce that is really driven by the children: child support.  In the last post on the Equitable Mediation Services blog, we talked about the calculating of alimony when using mediation for divorce and how there is no set formula and the parties work through the numbers based on their budgets and conversations had in mediation.  But how does it work when it comes to child support?  While there is a formula, which does make our lives a bit easier when it comes to establishing a support amount, as parents you each still have the flexibility to make arrangements that suit your particular circumstance and your children’s needs.

There are some common misconceptions when it comes to calculating child support.  First is that only one of you is paying child support and that is not true.  The child support award calculated during mediation represents the non-residential parent’s (or PAR) share of the support.  It does not represent the total amount it costs to raise the child so in effect the residential parent (or PPR) is paying some level of child support.  Second is that the child support award is the full amount each parent has to pay for the support of their children.  This too is false.  When calculating child support using mediation for divorce, it represents the minimum cost of basic support and does not include what is referred to as “extraordinary items” such as car insurance, study abroad trips or college. Last is that all child support stops when the minor child turns 18.  Again, not entirely true.  Yes the basic calculated child support award amount stops but if the child goes to college, there will be expenses you are each potentially responsible for with regard to that.  If the child commutes there may even be a limited extension of the basic child support award calculated so again,  it’s best to work with a Divorce Mediator in NJ to ensure that you each fully understand your obligations as parents both from a parenting perspective as well as a financial one.  Calculating child support using mediation for divorce is the best way to ensure that your children receive the resources they need in order to not become the economic victims of divorce.  Remember: while you may no longer be husband and wife, you will always be mom and dad.

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Joseph Dillon is a Professional Accredited Divorce Mediator in NJ and the owner of Equitable Mediation Services a New Jersey divorce mediation practice serving Somerset, Mercer, Middlesex, Essex, Morris, Monmouth and Hunterdon counties including the towns of Edison, Parsippany, East Brunswick, West Orange, Bridgewater, South Brunswick, Hillsborough, Livingston, Randolph, Maplewood, West Windsor, Summit, Plainsboro, Millburn, Morristown, Montgomery, Madison, Readington, Branchburg, Warren, Princeton, Metuchen, Lawrenceville, Pennington, Short Hills, Bernards, Bedminster, Colts Neck, Holmdel, Roseland, Montclair and surrounding areas.