In New Jersey there are certain guidelines that govern the amount of child support a non-custodial parent must pay to their former spouse. While this is certainly the norm, there are certain situations and scenarios in which a couple might deviate from the guidelines and a different amount of support may be agreed upon. Mediation is extremely beneficial in these types of situations, as it allows the opportunity for both parties to openly discuss the needs of the children and reach a child support agreement that they can both feel comfortable with. The important thing to remember is that even though one of you may be writing a check to the other party, you’re both paying child support as the amount of that check does not cover 100% of the children’s expenses!

That being said, here are 7 helpful tips for negotiating a child support agreement.