How Is Child Support Calculated?

When a married couple divorces or when an unmarried couple has a child, the issue of who pays child support will be of chief importance. It is the responsibility of both parents to see to the well-being of their child, including their financial needs.

Any existing guidelines established by state law, as well as the unique facts and circumstances of your case, can dictate how child support is calculated. An attorney with an in-depth understanding of the laws involved can help with all aspects of a child support case and safeguard your child’s best interests.

How Child Support Works

Every child has a right to receive financial support, which may continue until the age of 18 but may, in some circumstances, carry on past that point. Such as, if the child goes away to college or has specific medical needs, child support payments could continue well after they reach legal adulthood.

Typically, the parent who has primary custody of the child receives support payments from the non-custodial parent. Both parents are supposed to provide financial input to cover the costs of raising the child.

Child support is designed to help balance out the costs incurred by both parents while providing for the necessities associated with the child’s upbringing. The child’s education, housing, food, medical expenses, and clothing are just some of the key expenses that can be covered by child support.

Child support agreements can be reached in multiple ways. If the child’s parents are divorcing, they can incorporate child support into the final divorce agreement. In situations where the divorce is amicable, the parents may be able to negotiate child support with the help of their lawyers and present a final agreement for the judge to approve.

Sometimes, it may not be possible to reach a settlement in this way and the court will order the appropriate child support amount per state guidelines. If the parents are unmarried and paternity was not previously established, one parent may need to file a paternity suit before a child support obligation can be requested or imposed.

Understanding How Child Support Is Calculated and Determined

The final calculation of child support will depend on many factors, including any state-established tables or guidelines to calculate this amount as well as the gross income of both parents. To calculate child support, gross income can include money from a wide variety of sources. Gross income could include salaries, commissions, unemployment income, and even investment income.

The number of children in question and each child’s specific needs are important factors for child support. The court may evaluate any particular costs associated with raising the child and the standard of living that the child would have maintained if not for the divorce.

If one parent has a substantially higher or lower income than the other, this could lead to a deviation from the child support tables or guidelines. Illness, relocation, or significant travel costs may also impact a final child support determination.

A Child Support Attorney Can Offer Legal Assistance

When it comes to establishing, modifying, or enforcing child support arrangements, an attorney can provide invaluable legal assistance from the start. An attorney can help negotiate a range of child support issues while implementing effective strategies to protect your rights and those of your child.

If you need to go to court, an attorney can present evidence and compelling legal arguments to pursue the most advantageous outcome. If you have questions about your child support case, reach out to Capital Family & Divorce Law Group of Price Benowitz LLP today.