Family Lawyer in New Jersey | Child Support Claim

The client and the former spouse divorced by mutual consent after prolonged marital conflict involving lifestyle differences, financial disputes, and disagreements over child rearing.

As part of the divorce, the parties agreed that the former spouse would retain sole legal and physical custody of the child, while the client would provide child support through a single lump sum payment.

To ensure stability for the child, the client liquidated personal assets and transferred the agreed amount in full, after which both parties ceased contact and lived independently for several years.

The plaintiff alleged that the lump sum payment previously received was not child support but rather spousal compensation, despite clear documentation to the contrary.

Based on this assertion, the plaintiff requested a judgment ordering payment of retroactive child support for the entire period preceding the child’s adulthood.

The client experienced significant anxiety and frustration, believing the lawsuit ignored both the prior agreement and objective financial records.

The defense team collected and submitted the original divorce settlement documents, bank transfer records, and court filings demonstrating that the lump sum payment was expressly intended as child support.

These materials showed that the payment was negotiated, agreed upon, and fully executed at the time of divorce, leaving no outstanding obligation.

The court was presented with a clear timeline establishing that the defendant had fully complied with all agreed responsibilities.

The family lawyer in New Jersey also highlighted the suspicious timing of the lawsuit, filed shortly before the child reached adulthood.

The defense argued that the claim constituted an improper attempt to obtain financial gain rather than a genuine effort to secure child welfare.

A written legal brief emphasized that allowing such claims would undermine settlement finality and encourage abusive litigation practices.

The court issued a judgment dismissing all claims asserted by the plaintiff.

Additionally, the court ordered that all litigation costs be borne by the plaintiff, recognizing the lack of legal and factual basis for the lawsuit.

The client was able to conclude the matter without any additional financial liability or ongoing legal exposure.