When couples divorce, there are usually several primary concerns that need to be addressed. When a child is involved, things get more complicated. Child custody and child support are both top priorities in order to do what is in the best interest of a child. While most child support mediation is for divorcing couples, clients can also be non-married couples that have children together and want to discuss child support with an impartial third party. Child support mediation remains largely the same for divorced and unmarried couples, with some minor differences based on court involvement.
The NJ Child Support Mediation Process
Many child support cases don’t require litigation. This is because most states have precise guidelines in place based on income and number of children that specify how much parents are required to provide. In situations where this is not the case and child support negotiations need to be carried out, parents can use a child support mediator to act as a middleman while negotiations happen and an agreement can be met.
There are a number of factors that can be considered before landing on a specific amount for child support payments. Here is some of the primary costs to discuss:
- Insurance costs
- College tuition
- Extracurricular activity costs (athletic activities, music lessons, etc.)
- Special needs
Steven Menack has experience with family law and can advise you on how the court will rule on certain expenses if both parties cannot reach an agreement. The goal of child support mediation is to reach an agreement both parties are happy with. This will require both parties to be open about their finances and committed to doing what is best for their child.
Child Support Mediation With Steven Menack
If you need to reach an agreement on child support and would prefer not to involve attorneys, contact Steven B. Menack today. As a New Jersey divorce mediator, he has years of experience dealing with child support issues and will work to make sure that both parties are happy with the final agreement.