1st order laws

I have a question about what the court looks at concerning support orders for children by different mothers. I have a support order but my child is my ex's 2nd child. His 1st child's mother doesn't have a support order. If the day comes that she ever decides to go for one, will my support be lowered because my child was born second? I live in New Jersey and don't know if it's "1st come, 1st serve" for support orders or if it's who is born first regardless of who has an order imposed first. Thank you.-jvl

[This message has been edited by jvl (edited October 05, 2000).]

Here is some information I found that might be helpful, as far as who's support overrides the other. In TX the first order of support gets a higher percentage of support then the following orders, it is a spend down method. For instance if you are eligible by guidelines to receive 28% of his net pay, then the order from a second parent for support would be in the range of 25-23% of net pay. Most states will not allow more then 50% of a obligors tke home pay to be garnished. From what I have read also in order for a support order to be made the judge looks at any existing orders to determine the new support order guideleines. Then if the obligor wants to try to get the payments lowered he/she has to petition the court for a modification of one or more support orders.
Hope this helps.

The Family Part of the Superior Court has free child support worksheets available in the Clerk's office, along with instructions. You must know the net pay, after subtracting all mandatory deductions, of the person who will be paying the child support. This amount is factored into a table that shows a child support range based on the number of children to be supported. You can estimate the approximate child support amount:
* for one child 21% of take home pay
* two children 33%
* three children 42%
* four children 47%
* five children 51%
* six children 56%




[This message has been edited by TxBlu (edited October 05, 2000).]