Child support is arguably one of the most important matters to determine when a couple gets divorced. New Your courts take child support very seriously, and once your divorce is finalized, it can be difficult to change your child support arrangement. But, there are circumstances that may allow you to terminate or extend your payments. Read on to learn more about child support in New York.
How is Child Support Determined in New York?
In New York, both parents have a legal responsibility to take care of their children financially. The goal of child support is to ensure that the child’s standard of living is the same or better than before the divorce. In order to determine child support, a New York court may examine the following factors:
- The financial resources of each parent
- The financial resources of the child
- The child’s physical and emotional health
- The standard of living enjoyed by the child before the divorce
- The tax consequences of each parent
- The non-monetary contributions of each parent regarding the care of the child
- The educational needs of either parent
- The disparity of the parent’s gross income
- The needs of children outside of the marriage
When can I stop paying child support?
For the most part, child support payments are required to be made throughout the child’s upbringing until they reach the age of emancipation and can support themselves. In the state of New York, the age of emancipation is generally 21 years old. That being said, every family is different. As a result, child support payments can be terminated early, or extended longer, depending on the situation. For example, if a child decides to pursue higher education, and needs further support after turning 21, support payments may still be required for a period of time. On the other hand, if a child turns 18 years old and the parent can prove to the court they are financially independent, the payments can end early. When the court approves of emancipation, child support payments may end.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child support arrangement and terminating payments, contact our firm today to discuss your options.
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