When two people have a child together but are no longer in a relationship, or never were in a relationship, there may be a time in which a parenting plan will have to be decided upon. This usually includes creating a custody agreement, visitation schedule, and determining child support obligations. When there is not a shared custody agreement, one parent will be considered the custodial parent and the other parent will be considered the non-custodial parent. The custodial parent is the parent who spends more than 50-percent of the time with the child. The child will usually live with this parent and then may go stay with the other parent every other weekend, for example.
When a parent is deemed the custodial parent, they typically have more responsibility than the non-custodial parent. However, they may also have more rights. The custodial parent has the right to receive child support payments in full and on time. They have the right to be notified if any action occurs that might impact the child support and they have the right to request the amount that the non-custodial parent has paid towards late payments. Additionally, they may request a review of the child support payments every three years.
As previously mentioned, the custodial parent also has a number of responsibilities. They must appear at every court date that has been scheduled, to assist the court in establishing paternity, help establish a child support order, and inform the NJ Child Support Office of any changes of address or custody.
If you have questions about child support as a custodial parent, or any other matters of custody, speak with an experienced family law attorney who can assess your case and provide you with assistance.
Paris P. Eliades Law Firm, LLC is honored to serve the people of New Jersey, including Sparta, Sussex County, Morris County, Passaic County, and Bergen County with the quality legal services they deserve. Contact our firm for a consultation today.
