Child Emancipation in New Jersey

New Jersey updated its laws regarding child support obligations in 2017. Parents are obligated to provide support to their children until they are 19 years of age. It is important to note that while this can be extended until the child is 23, it can also be reduced. If a child is emancipated at the age of 18, the parents may be free of paying support.

Child support is taken very seriously in New Jersey. A child can be considered emancipated if they meet one or more of the following criteria:

• The child joins the military
• The child moves out of the parental home and has no relationship with the parents
• The child gets married
• The child is self sufficient

If a parent wishes to emancipate their child, they will have to prove to the court that the child no longer needs support. The parent will have to submit a written request whether they want to extend child support or have their child emancipated. New Jersey will always act in the best interests of the child and determine whether the child should still collect support from the parents. The changes in child support laws went into effect on February 1, 2017.

If you are a parent that is looking to emancipate your child, contact our firm today.

If you require strong legal representation for matters related to divorce or family law, Haber Silver Russoniello & Dunn is here to help. We proudly represent clients in Morris County and throughout the state of New Jersey. Contact our firm today to schedule a consultation.