Why You Need a Child Support Lawyer

A child Support lawyer is a professional that advises parents on their legal responsibilities and duties to each other concerning the physical and financial support of children. Child support is a complex issue that can often spark heated disputes between parents and cause serious financial problems for families if not handled correctly or enforced. A top-rated Phoenix AZ child Support attorney can assist you in resolving any disputes and ensuring that your children receive the financial support they deserve.

Child support is a legally mandated monthly payment that helps parents meet their children’s basic needs. It can also be used to cover some of the child’s extracurricular activities, but is not intended to pay for private schooling, college tuition, or other expensive expenses. When parents are separated, the court will typically order one parent (the obligor) to pay a specific amount of money to the other parent (the obligee).

The determination of the proper amount of child support is often based on state guidelines, which consider both parents’ incomes, the number of children they have together, each parent’s relative time with the children, and any extra expenses such as health insurance and day care costs. However, the law allows the judge to depart from the guidelines if there are special circumstances that justify doing so.

When determining the amount of child support, the court will consider both parents’ gross incomes, which is determined by adding up both parties’ monthly earnings. In addition, the court will take into account any other sources of income that either parent may have, such as social security retirement benefits, unemployment compensation, and workers’ compensation payments. The court will also factor in any other living expenses, such as rent or mortgage, car payments, health and life insurance, and child care.

Typically, the court will not take into consideration whether or not a parent voluntarily left their employment or was forced to leave by an employer, as this does not have a direct impact on the child’s financial well-being. However, if the court believes that a party’s current lack of employment is due to their choice or refusal to work, it can impute income to them.

In some states, the law may allow a judge to modify or change the amount of child support at any time after the initial order is issued. The modification is usually based on a significant change in either the parent’s income or the children’s expenses. A few examples of such changes include a major raise or a loss of employment, medical expenses for the child, or a change in custody.

Failure to pay child support can result in hefty fines and even jail time for the non-compliant party. Additionally, back child support does not disappear and can be collected through garnishment of wages or bank accounts. Moreover, some public assistance programs may even suspend the person’s driver’s license or take action to seize property until back child support is paid in full.

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