New Jersey Child Support Calculator
Uses NJ Income Shares — Appendix IX-F, Sole/Shared Parenting Worksheet
Table of Contents
How New Jersey Calculates Child Support
New Jersey uses the Income Shares model with guidelines established in Appendix IX-F of the New Jersey Court Rules. The NJ system is one of the most detailed in the country, using separate worksheets for sole parenting and shared parenting arrangements. New Jersey bases calculations on net income after taxes and mandatory deductions, rather than gross income.
The calculation considers both parents' net incomes, the number of children, and specific adjustments for health insurance, childcare, and other child-related expenses. New Jersey's guidelines create a rebuttable presumption that the calculated amount is correct. The guidelines are maintained by the New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts and are reviewed regularly to ensure they reflect current economic data on the costs of raising children.
Sole Parenting vs. Shared Parenting Worksheets
New Jersey uses two primary worksheets. The Sole Parenting Worksheet applies when one parent has the child for more than 72% of overnights (263+ nights per year). The Shared Parenting Worksheet applies when the parent of alternate residence (PAR) has the child for at least 28% of overnights (approximately 104 nights per year). The shared parenting worksheet accounts for duplicated fixed costs and variable expenses in both households.
Under shared parenting, the basic obligation is multiplied by an adjustment factor (typically 1.5) to account for increased overall costs when children maintain two homes. Each parent's share is then calculated based on their proportion of combined income, and the obligations are offset to determine the net payment amount.
Net Income Under NJ Guidelines
New Jersey uses net income for child support calculations. Gross income includes all sources: wages, salaries, bonuses, commissions, self-employment, rental income, investment income, pensions, Social Security, unemployment, workers' compensation, and alimony received. Deductions include federal, state, and local income taxes, FICA, mandatory retirement, mandatory union dues, and prior child support orders. New Jersey also considers the tax benefit from claiming children as dependents.
Additional Considerations
New Jersey adds several costs to the basic obligation: work-related childcare, children's health insurance premiums (the child-only portion), predictable and recurring unreimbursed medical expenses exceeding $250 per child per year, and court-approved extraordinary expenses. These are allocated proportionally between the parents based on income shares.
NJ also has provisions for imputed income when a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, high-income adjustments for combined incomes above the schedule maximum, and special considerations for government benefits and other household members' contributions.
Modification and Enforcement
NJ allows modification when there is a change in circumstances. A significant change in income, custody, or needs qualifies. The NJ Office of Child Support Services conducts reviews and handles enforcement through income withholding, tax interception, license suspension, contempt, liens, bank levies, credit reporting, and passport denial. Interest accrues on arrearages at the statutory rate.
NJ uses net income after taxes. Sole Parenting Worksheet for primary custody; Shared Parenting Worksheet for 28%+ overnight time.
New Jersey Child Support Schedule
Below is a representative sample of the New Jersey child support schedule showing basic monthly obligations:
| Combined Monthly Income | 1 Child | 2 Children | 3 Children | 4 Children | 5 Children |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,500 | $289 | $434 | $497 | $538 | $574 |
| $2,500 | $423 | $637 | $729 | $789 | $841 |
| $3,500 | $526 | $790 | $895 | $974 | $1,044 |
| $5,000 | $661 | $992 | $1,121 | $1,222 | $1,310 |
| $7,500 | $864 | $1,287 | $1,443 | $1,583 | $1,703 |
| $10,000 | $1,047 | $1,553 | $1,738 | $1,909 | $2,055 |
| $15,000 | $1,359 | $2,005 | $2,250 | $2,477 | $2,672 |
| $20,000 | $1,617 | $2,355 | $2,654 | $2,927 | $3,162 |