If you are planning for a divorce or child custody dispute, you are apt to feel a variety of emotions. While you may expect to feel sad or angry, you may also experience some confusion. Put simply, New Jersey family law can be incredibly complex. While an experienced attorney can coach you, you are likely to encounter certain surprises. An employability expert may be one of them.
New Jersey’s alimony and child support statutes both address an individual’s earning capacity. That is, when determining spousal or child support, the judge in your case likely wants to know how much you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse can earn. If this is either in dispute or tough to discern, you may need to hire an employability expert to provide an opinion.
Actual earnings
Of course, in determining an individual’s earning potential, the person’s actual earnings are relevant. Forbes reports, though, that millions of Americans are underemployed, earning less than their skills and expertise are actually worth. If either you or your partner falls into this category, actual earnings may not provide an accurate view of support obligations.
Government data
Government statistics are another possible source for earning capacity insight. The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development publishes data on salaries for thousands of occupations. That said, government surveys may be more instructive than specifically relevant to actual earning capacity.
Employability experts
Employability experts may provide expertise that fills in the gaps between actual earnings and government statistics. When developing their opinions, these experts often consider a variety of factors, including a person’s work and salary histories and the employment market.
There are a variety of ways to plan for a divorce or child custody dispute. Still, because earning capacity is fundamental for both parties in either matter, you want to do what you can to paint a realistic picture. When there is either doubt or dispute, collaborating with an employability expert may be the right approach.