What expenses are included in the Child Support Guidelines?
Guideline child support awards are intended to represent the average amount that intact families spend on their children. However, a common question that often arises is what expenses are included in a child support award established by the guidelines?
The guideline child support awards include a child’s share of expenses for housing, food, clothing, transportation, entertainment, unreimbursed health care up to and including $250 per child per year, and other miscellaneous items. Paragraph 8 of Appendix IX-A of the New Jersey Court Rules lists in detail the following expenses that are included in the Child Support Guidelines:
Housing: Mortgage principal and interest payments or home equity loans, property taxes, insurance, refinancing charges, repairs, maintenance, rent, parking fees, property management or security fees, expenses for vacation homes, lodging while out of town, utilities, fuels, public services, domestic services, lawn care, gardening, pest control, laundry and dry-cleaning (non-clothing), moving and storage, repairs on home, furniture, major appliances, purchase or rental of household equipment of tools, postage, laundry or cleaning supplies, cleaning and toilet tissues, ,household and lawn products, stationary, all housewares (except personal care appliances), all household textiles (e.g., linens, drapes, slipcovers, sewing materials, etc.), and miscellaneous household equipment (e.g. clocks, luggage, light fixtures, computers and software, decorating items, etc.). The net purchase price of a home is not included.
Food: All food and non-alcoholic beverages purchased for home consumption or purchased away from home (including vending machines, restaurants, tips, school meals and catered affairs). Non-food items (e.g. tissue papers, alcoholic beverages, cigarettes) are not included.
Clothing: All children’s clothing (including school uniforms), footwear (except special footwear for sports), diapers, repairs or alterations to clothing and footwear, storage, dry cleaning, laundry, watches, and jewelry.
Transportation: All costs involved with owning or leasing an automobile including monthly installments toward principal cost, finance charges (interest), lease payments, gas and motor oil, insurance, maintenance and repairs. Other costs related to transportation such as public transit, parking fees, license and registration fees, towing, tolls, and automobile service clubs are also included. The net outlay (purchase price minus the trade-in value) for a vehicle purchase is not included. Transportation also does not include expenses associated with a motor vehicle purchased or leased for the intended primary use of a child subject to the child support order at issue.
Unreimbursed Health Care Up to and Including $250 Per Child Per Year: Unreimbursed health-care expenditures (e.g. medical and dental) up to and including $250 per year are included. These expenses are considered ordinary and may include items such as non-prescription drugs, co-payments or health care services, equipment or products. The parent’s cost of adding a child to health insurance policy is not included.
Entertainment: Fees, memberships and admissions to sports, recreational, or social events, lessons, or instructions, movie rentals, televisions, mobile devices, sound equipment, pets, hobbies, toys, playground, equipment, photographic equipment, film processing, video games, and recreational, exercise or sports equipment.
Miscellaneous Items: Personal care products and services (e.g. hair, shaving, cosmetics), books and magazines, school supplies, cash contributions, personal insurance, and finance charges (except those for mortgage and vehicle purchases)
While the Child Support Guidelines cover a comprehensive list of expenses, there are in many cases expenses that are incurred beyond those set forth above. For questions regarding whether an expense incurred on behalf of a child is covered by the child support award, or any other family law related issue, please contact the attorneys of Ulrichsen Rosen & Freed LLC. Our firm is focused exclusively on the practice of family law and serves clients throughout New Jersey including clients residing in Mercer County, Somerset County, Hunterdon County, Burlington County and Middlesex County.
