If you are a parent, you may need a Phoenix Arizona Child Support lawyer to help you through your situation. A Child Support lawyer can assist you with many different matters related to child support including calculating support, changing support, enforcing support, collecting back support, and much more.
Getting the Right amount of Child Support is essential to providing children with a stable living environment after their parents divorce or separate. An experienced Phoenix Arizona family lawyer can help you determine the amount of child support that is fair and equitable for both parties.
How Does It Work?
Whenever a family law case involves child support, the courts use the state’s Child Support Guidelines to determine how much money each parent will be ordered to pay to the other for their children. These guidelines determine how much a parent should pay for their children’s basic needs, such as food, clothing and shelter.
The Arizona Child Support Guidelines take into account each parent’s income, parenting time, and expenses related to caring for the children. The guidelines are based on the belief that each parent should be able to support their children without having to borrow or spend more than they have.
In addition to the Guidelines, a custodial parent may be entitled to additional support based on other factors. These factors may include the parent’s income, spousal support and medical expenses.
Modifications of Support
A party may petition the court to modify child support if there is a significant change in circumstances. This change can be as simple as one parent losing their job or as complex as a significant increase in the income of one parent.
It is very important to have a child support modification attorney review your case before you make any changes. These lawyers will research the facts and build a strong case that supports your request to modify your child support.
Reductions of Support
You can reduce your child support without a court order if both parties agree to the change. This can be a great way to save money or provide your children with more time with each other. However, it is very important to have a child support reduction attorney review the agreement with you before you sign it.
Changing Your Child Support
In Arizona, child support can be changed if there has been a substantial change in the income of the parties involved. This can include an increased income for one of the parents, loss of employment or a decrease in the cost of living. It is also possible for the Child Support Guideline Formula to be recalculated.
Retroactive Support
In some cases, a non-custodial parent may owe back child support for a period of time prior to their divorce. This can be especially true if they were not paying during the time that their divorce was in progress or even before they filed for a divorce.
This type of support can be retroactive for up to five years. This can be difficult for people who are not familiar with how the system works, but an experienced Phoenix Arizona child support lawyer can help you understand your options and make sure that you receive the back support that you are owed.