Child Support

Family courts will issue child support orders so both parents help financially provide for the child. Each state has a formula to calculate child support payments, but the family court will likely consider other relevant circumstances in determining child support.

Unpaid child support is a problem for many custodial parents. Every state has set up child enforcement agencies to help parents collect child support from noncustodial parents to help provide for their child.

A local family law attorney can discuss how child support laws and guidelines in your state can affect your child support case. Learn about your rights to collect unpaid child support from your child’s other parent and to provide for your child financially.

Child Support Guidelines

When determining a child support agreement, the family court will work to make sure the child and custodial parent are financially supported. Each state has a pre-determined formula which generally factors in:

Parents' current income
Medical expenses
Child care costs
Time spend with the child

Other relevant factors the court may consider to adjust or deviate from the calculated child support amount include:

Child support orders for other children
Extraordinary expenses
- Living costs
- Medical bills
- Cost of travel
Child’s standard of living
Adverse economic conditions
Child’s financial resources
Parents’ income above the child support guidelines

Connect with a family law attorney today.

Modify Child Support

It’s possible to modify child support after the original child support order if there’s a substantial change in circumstances.

What the family court considers to be a significant change varies in state child support laws. Generally if the child support payments would change by 10%, the state considers the circumstances substantial.

A temporary change in child support may be possible under certain circumstances, such as a child’s medical emergency or custodial parent’s temporary financial problem.

Permanent changes in child support are effective until another modification to child support is made, the child no longer needs support or is emancipated. Typical reasons to petition the family court to modify child support may be:

Changes in child custody or visitation
Significant change in income
Increase in living expenses
Child’s needs change
Disability of a parent

Child Support Enforcement

If a parent fails to make child support payments the legal system can work with the custodial parent to make sure the child is financially provided for by both parents.

State child support agencies have a few ways to collect unpaid child support from deadbeat parents, including:

Contempt of Court: A parent will need to give the family court a legal reason for not paying child support. If there isn’t a legitimate reason, the parent may face fines, jail and paying the other parent’s attorney’s fees and unpaid child support.
Wage Garnishment: An employer may be ordered to hold amounts from a parent’s wages and send it to the child support collection agency or custodial parent. Some states automatically issue wage garnishment with child support orders.
Seizure of Tax Refunds and Property: The family court may intercept a deadbeat parent’s tax refund check. Placing liens or seizing property may also be an option to help collect unpaid child support.
License Revocation: Some states may order a deadbeat parent’s driver’s license or professional license be revoked until a child support debt is paid.

Protect your Child’s Financial Future and Speak to Family Law Attorney

A local family law attorney can further explain how child support guidelines and laws in your state will affect your child support case. Learn about protecting your child’s financial future and making sure you collect child support payments.

Connect with a local family law attorney for legal adviceon child support by calling 866-733-5116 or filling out a family law review form. Get help with your child support case today.

Connect with a family law attorney today.