One of the subjects that knock several thousands of families off balance the world all over is child support. Whether you are a parent paying child support or one who should be receiving child support, there are some things you need to know about child support and how it affects the entire family
Child support is typically given to the parent who has been awarded primary custody in a custody case. The parent without primary custody, on the other hand, is expected to provide regular payment to the parent with primary custody of the kids. This is to help meet the daily expenses of parenting including feeding, clothing, education, shelter and many more. Parents are saddled with the responsibility of providing a safe and secure environment for their kids. Regardless of the fact that the parents were unable to live with other; it doesn’t necessarily mean they should neglect their responsibility as a parent which is providing for the kids. If the court awards a joint custody, the child support obligation will be based on several factors including parent’s income and the percentage of time spent with the kids. The need to pay for child support still stands even if both parents were never married.
Each state has its own guidelines to calculating the percentage of money required for child support. One of the major criteria for calculating child support is based on the income and expenses of the parents. So, what are the factors used to determine the calculation of child support? Most states in the country use the same factors to create the guideline which determine the amount to be paid for child support. Some of the factors include:
This is one of the aspects where a judge plays a very important role. The judge, on his own part, carries out a critical assessment on the parent’s ability to earn as well as the actual earnings. One of the reasons for this is because most parents intentionally quit a well paying job to take up one with a lower remuneration. One of the reasons behind the decision is to avoid paying a higher percentage of child support. If you are faced with the responsibility of paying child support as a parent, it is wise not to switch jobs. This is because you may well be paying child support based on the previous earnings, which in turn, becomes very difficult to meet up with the expenses because you might not have the income to support it. Why quit your job to avoid paying higher child support? Your kids deserve the best things of life, so do all you possibly can to give it to them.
Child support should be placed on your priority list. It is not advisable to be late on payment, but there are some unforeseen circumstances that might delay payment. Some of these circumstances include losing your job, falling ill and unable to work, or a reduction in pay. Regardless of these circumstances, you will eventually pay the money in arrears back. On the contrary, if you are the custodial parent receiving child support, it is advisable to consult with a child support attorney to help you file an action for payment delay.
The law states that the district attorney of each state has the right to collect child support. If a non-custodial parent defaults on paying for child support, then you should consult with a child support attorney immediately. The child support attorney serves the defaulting parent with papers for proper payment arrangement. A jail term awaits anyone who refuses to pay child support. If he or she relocates to another state or country in order to avoid child support, your child support attorney, alongside the federal and state parent locator, can help you find a missing parent.
There are cases when both custodial and non custodial parent need to make a few modifications on the terms of child support. If both parents fail to reach an agreement, then a court hearing will be fixed. Also, before the child support or custody court can make the required modifications, there has to be proof of changes in circumstances. Some of the changes that may require modification of terms for child support include:
Child support service ensures maximum support and care for kids deprived of a full and complete family life as a result of divorce, marital separation, dissolution, or annulment of a relationship. Parents are obliged to provide for the needs of their kids by making payment for child support periodically. If you are looking for adequate financial assistant for child support, it is advisable to hire the services of a professional child support attorney to help you get through the process. With the help of an attorney, you can be rest assured of getting adequate financial assistance for child support.
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