Child Custody A nimble, dedicated team focused on results.

Child Custody Solutions in Monmouth County

Contact Us at (732) 455-9000 for Your Initial Consultation

If you are a parent, we know the love you have for your children. Losing a relationship with them, or jeopardizing your ability to parent them, can be devastating. That is why custody is such a serious issue in divorce cases.

We understand your relationship with your children is everything to you and we can help you negotiate custody arrangements and/or fight for child custody. Our award-winning family law attorneys are dedicated to our clients and go above and beyond to protect their well-being. Our number one priority is ensuring you obtain the best possible outcome for your child custody situation in Monmouth County.

What Sets Us Apart?

We've Served Monmouth and Ocean County for Over 20 Years
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Call (732) 455-9000 or fill out an online form to get in touch with our Monmouth County child custody attorneys!

Understanding How New Jersey Courts Determine Child Custody

If you plan to fight for child custody of your children, it is important to keep in mind what the courts are looking for when making their decisions. New Jersey family courts evaluate several factors when deciding issues related to custody and parenting time.

Key Factors Considered by New Jersey Courts:

Physical health and safety of the children
The relationship of the child with each parent
The parents' willingness to accept custody arrangements
Co-parenting and communication skills between parents
Emotional needs of the child
The child's preference, age appropriate
Stability of the home environment
Fitness of each parent
Age and number of children

Exploring Types of Child Custody in New Jersey

Courts operate under the belief that it is often in the best interests of the child to maintain a consistent relationship with both parents.

The court may also award sole or shared residential custody. There are a number of shared residential custody arrangements.

In a joint legal custody arrangement, the parties work together to make major decisions regarding the child's health, education, and welfare.

Child Support Guidelines in New Jersey: What You Need to Know

The amount of child support a parent must pay is based on New Jersey's child support guidelines. The goal of the guidelines is to fairly allocate the cost of raising a child between both parents.

Factors Influencing Child Support Calculations:

The parent income
Spousal support obligations
The number of overnights the non-custodial parent exercises
The ages of the children
The number of children
The cost of the children's health insurance
And a number of other factors depending on the situation

When child support is awarded, it is designed to help the custodial parent pay for the children's food, clothing, and shelter. Child support guidelines are meant to help ensure courts issue consistent child support awards and are based on a formula which takes the previously listed information from both parents and calculates a child support amount.

Adjustments can be made to the guideline calculation when a parent or both parents have other child support orders, the government pays benefits towards the child/children, and/or when adjustments have been made for parenting time. Said adjustments can also be made if a child spends more or less time with the non-custodial parent, as the non-custodial parent's cost for the child will either increase or decrease, and the custodial parent's costs must change as a result, as well.

Why Agreeing on a Parenting Plan is Essential

If you and your ex-spouse are on speaking terms, it is best to agree on a parenting plan together. New Jersey courts will accept custody arrangements created by the parents unless the custody arrangement does not serve the child's best interests.

If parents are unable to agree on an arrangement, then the court may mandate a custody plan, which may be less favorable to the parents than if they had created one on their own. If you need assistance working through a child custody plan, call our divorce attorneys in Monmouth & Ocean County today.

Our legal team can assist with the following child custody issues:

We will do all that we can to help you assert your rights and work toward a favorable parenting plan! Schedule a free consultation with The Law Office of Darren C. O'Toole, LLC today.

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