When parents separate, the court often orders one parent to pay another a set amount for financial support of their children. The parent receiving child support is called the obligee; the parent paying is called the obligor.
The amount of child support is determined by state-specific guidelines that estimate the amount of money it takes to provide for a child’s basic needs. These amounts can also include additional expenses like private school, summer camp, and enrichment activities. While these expenses are often not a part of the basic need calculation, they may be included in the support obligation if both parties agree. A Phoenix child support lawyer can assist with negotiating such agreements.
Our Family Law Attorneys Can Help You Determine the Best Child Support Solution for Your Situation
A judge will often follow the guidelines when deciding on a child support order. However, he or she has the discretion to deviate from these standards for certain reasons. These might include the number of overnight stays each parent has with the child, income disparity between the parents, and other special circumstances. It is not a good idea to try to negotiate deviations from these guidelines on your own, as a judge will usually approve only substantial changes.
If the parties are getting a divorce, marital misconduct will usually not be considered as a reason to change the amount of child support. The court will consider any other factors that can impact the financial well-being of the children, though. This could include health issues, job loss, and other problems affecting the parent’s ability to earn.
It is important to remember that child support does not end when the child reaches the age of majority (usually 18 or 19). The court will typically order continuing monthly payments until the child finishes high school, becomes self-supporting, or emancipates.
In most cases, the court will calculate the basic child support obligation based on each party’s gross monthly income. This will include salaries and wages, self-employment, investments, and other forms of income. It will not include unemployment benefits, disability insurance payments, or other forms of public assistance.
Our firm has helped countless clients resolve their child support issues in mediation and other alternative dispute resolution methods. We can also assist with enforcing existing child support orders and defending against contempt proceedings.
We are experienced in dealing with complex child custody and support matters, including those involving multiple states. Call us or use our online contact form found in https://www.phoenixfamilylawyers.net/child-support/ to schedule a consultation. We can answer your questions and explain your options in a free, confidential consultation.
We offer evening and weekend appointments by appointment. Hablamos espanol. We accept credit cards. We are located in Tucson. Contact us to learn more about how our firm can help you with your child support issue. We will be there with you every step of the way. We handle each case from beginning to end. Our office manager, Riisa Petersen Mandel, is a highly regarded family law attorney with more than a decade of experience.
