Special Needs Child Support Attorneys in Somerset County

Compassionately Working with Parents of Special Needs Children

In any divorce proceeding where children are involved, the most important issues to be decided involve custody and parenting time. When a child has special needs, determining an appropriate parenting time plan and visitation schedule requires special considerations. This may be the case even if the special needs child is 18 or older. Furthermore, there is often a need to account for added costs associated with raising a special needs child when calculating the child support. For example, child support may need to include contributions toward therapy, medical equipment, nutritional supplements, dietary restrictions, and medication. A special needs trust may need to be created so that support paid will not adversely impact any government benefits to which the child may be entitled.

If you are a parent of a special needs child and are contemplating divorce, you need an attorney who understands the unique considerations that must be addressed to provide for the best interests of your child. At Shimalla, Wechsler, Lepp & D’Onofrio, LLP, our family lawyers in New Jersey have extensive experience representing clients with special needs children. You can trust that our team has the skill, knowledge, and compassion to handle these sensitive cases.

Schedule your initial consultation today by calling (908) 356-7634.

We Understand How to Help Your Child

If you have a child with special needs, your divorce agreement must cover many areas of your child’s life, including their education, the necessity of a guardianship, emancipation, and/or eligibility governmental benefits. Determining an appropriate amount of alimony may also be complicated by circumstances in which one parent’s earning capacity is limited as a result of having to care for the special needs child.

Special Needs Trusts

You may also need to establish a special needs trust. A special needs trust must be drafted carefully so that the special needs requirements are met without precluding the child from receiving other governmental benefits. The trust must specifically state that it is for the sole benefit of the beneficiary, it must be irrevocable, and it must be used specifically for necessities such as food, clothing, or shelter of the disabled individual.

While our firm does not create special needs trusts, we would be happy to refer you to lawyers who do and assist you in the process.

Please call our special needs child support lawyers in Somerset County today at (908) 356-7634 to arrange an appointment. You may also contact us online.