I got divorced in NJ 5 years ago. NJ child support is based upon the salaries of both parents that is calculated with some formula that the state came up with.

I had a great lawyer. I was probably going to get nailed with child support as my ex was only working part-time and the calculations are based on the current salaries. My lawyer knew that there was no way she could support herself with child support and her own salary. She would have to start working full-time at some point.

Therefore, he argued, correctly, that the child support be recalculated anually when my ex and I receive our W-2s. His argument was that there was too much that could happen to me. I could be furloughed, suffer a cut in pay or even lose my job. My ex fought that in court but the judge ruled in my favor.

Good thing he did. My ex's income has gone up every year since the divorce. Mine had gone up as well and especially after making captain but my payments now are lower that they were when the divorce was granted.