A child Support lawyer can help you determine how much you will owe or receive in a child support payment. These payments can cover expenses like housing, food, health care and more. Each state has its own formula for calculating this amount. You will need to provide documentation such as your tax returns, pay stubs and a financial disclosure statement. The best child support lawyer in Phoenix AZ will take these factors into consideration and give you an estimate of your child support payments.
Parents are legally obliged to financially support their children, even after a divorce or break-up. In most cases, the court will order one parent to pay the other a certain amount of money per month. These payments are generally based on the gross monthly incomes of both parents, the parenting time each parent has with the children, the cost of health insurance and daycare for the children, and other related expenses.
The court has the discretion to deviate from these Guidelines in certain situations, but they must explain in writing why they feel that a deviation is appropriate. The courts will always consider the needs of the children, the standard of living of both parties and their other obligations and debts before deviating from these Guidelines. Child support is a priority obligation and is not dischargeable in bankruptcy.
In some cases, a court may not order any child support if the parties have a shared custody arrangement. If the custodial parent receives more than 50% of the parenting time, then there is no need for the non-custodial parent to pay any child support. In these types of circumstances, the judge will make a visitation schedule that gives the non-custodial parent a chance to see their children and stay in contact with them. The judge can also include terms in the custody agreement for virtual visitation via tools such as Skype.
When the child reaches the age of majority (18 in most states) or turns 19 if still attending high school, the parents’ support obligation ends. However, if the child has severe physical or mental disabilities, then a support obligation may continue until that child is self-supporting or graduates from college.
If either parent experiences a substantial change in circumstances that could affect their ability to pay or receive child support, they can file a request for modification with the court. These situations might include a new job, losing a job, or a significant increase in medical bills. It is essential to have an experienced and knowledgeable lawyer working on your side, as a minor change in these circumstances can significantly alter the amount of child support you will owe or receive.
The dedicated team of family law attorneys at Dodge & Vega PLC at Law in Phoenix can help you through all aspects of your child custody and support case. Contact us today to schedule a consultation. Hablamos espaol. We serve clients throughout Tucson, Arizona.
