Direct Pay Vs. Probation
Child Support Payment Options
When it comes to receiving child support or alimony in New Jersey, the court will generally direct those payments be made through the probation department. However, you can decide to have those payments made directly to you.
Here is how each works and their advantages:
| Probation | Direct Pay | |
| How it works | Probation department garnishes the support payments directly from payor, as the payor is employed. If a payor is self-employed, other enforcement tools can be used. | Set up an automatic direct deposit into your bank account. |
| Advantages | Probation keeps an account of how much has been paid, and how many payments are in arrears, if any. | The payor may be embarrassed to have his or her employer directly involved in personal issues like child support and alimony. |
| If a payor is behind on payments, their state or federal tax refund may go to pay child support. | A good option if the payor is trustworthy. | |
| When support payments haven't been paid for six or more months, the payor's professional, driving, sporting, or other license may be revoked or denied. | Enforcing child support through probation can be expensive and time-consuming. | |
| A Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) is automatically applied every two years. | Can build a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) into your agreement for child support. | |
| If the payor owes more than $5,000 in child support, his or her passport application can be denied. | ||
| If payor fails to pay his/her child support, can issue a bench warrant for the payor's arrest. |
If the recipient originally elected to have a direct pay arrangement and now would like those payments through the probation department, you can make your request to the court. The court will almost always grant this request absent "good cause to the contrary."
Probation? Direct Pay? Not Sure Which? Talk to Us.
With our more than 60 combined years of helping clients like you decide which payment arrangement is best for them, we can help you, too. Contact the child support legal team at the Law Office of Steven P. Monaghan, LLC, to schedule your free initial consultation. One of our lawyers will get right back to you.
Call us at (732) 624-6343 or complete the online form.
Meet Your Advocates
Personalized. Compassionate. Experienced.
Former Client Experiences
We Tailor Our Approach Specifically to Meet Your Goals-
“Steven, I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your incredible expertise in working on my case. You’ve worked so diligently to try to expose C’s interference with me and my daughter. Your team ...”
- M.A.H. -
“Mr. Monaghan, I just wanted to say again, thank you for everything. Thank you for the countless hours you have spent helping me on this case. I feel completely happy right now that the case is ...”
- K.S. -
“Thank you for everything you did for our daughter and grandson. Your expertise was able to bring to an end a long and difficult journey for all involved. We are very appreciative of you. Thank you for ...”
- G.H. -
“My sincerest and heartfelt thank you. You all will never know how very much your patience, dedication, and professionalism means to me.”
- S.C. -
“Thank you for defending me- legally & morally. Thank you for talking honestly to me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You were amazing; truly amazing!”
- M.D.
TURN TO OUR TEAM FOR GUIDANCE
WE HELP FAMILIES NAVIGATE TO THE NEXT CHAPTER-
Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey
-
Practicing Family Law Exclusively
-
Over 60 Years of Combined Experience
-
Recognized & Trusted by the New Jersey Community
-
Free In-Person Consultations
