When going through a divorce in New Jersey, the money you earn from different sources plays a significant role in support payments. This matters even more when you have income from several places, not just a regular paycheck, but also from businesses, investments and other sources.
What counts as income in New Jersey divorces?
New Jersey courts look at how you make money when setting support amounts. They want to see the whole picture of what you earn. Here’s what the courts will check:
- Regular salary and wages
- Yearly or quarterly bonuses
- Money from business ownership
- Stock market gains
- Rent payments you receive
- Money from patents or creative works
- Trust fund payments
- Digital currency profits
A judge needs all this info to set fair support payments matching your earnings.
Ways courts figure out support payments
New Jersey judges use precise methods to add up different types of income. Here’s what they do:
- Look at your earnings over 3-5 years
- Check which income sources will likely continue
- Figure out what you’ll owe in taxes
- Look for income that changes with the seasons
- See which income sources will last
Sometimes, judges treat each type of income differently when setting support. They might count your whole salary but only part of your bonuses. Or they average out income that goes up and down a lot.
For the best results in your case, work with a lawyer who knows about high-asset divorces and bring in money experts to help. They’ll make sure the court sees all your income sources. This leads to support payments that work better for everyone involved.
