What child support entails and why it is important
Child support essentially refers to your financial obligation to support your child as they grow up. If you have custody of your child, it’s assumed by the court that by default, you will fulfill this financial obligation. However, if your child does not live with you, the court may require you to pay child support to the custodial parent, explains family law professional Kersh Law Firm.
If the court requires you to pay child support, such payments will continue to be made until your child reaches adulthood, or if certain instances occur like your child becomes an active-duty military personnel. If your child has special needs, these payments may last longer.
Each state in the U.S. has its own set of child support guidelines, and it’s typically up to the judge to determine how much child support you have to pay regularly. Again, this is governed by custody law. Most of the child support is paid by the non-custodial parent, which by law mirrors the fact that a custodial parent does not have sufficient financial resources to fully provide for the child.
Calculating child support becomes more complicated for joint custody scenarios, often decided upon based on the percentage each parent is contributing to the joint income. The more income contribution one parent has, the more they will pay toward child support. Income is often determined based on a variety of factors like wages, commissions, annuities, pensions, and social security and retirement benefits.
Aside from the given that parents want the best for their children, it’s important to both maintain a regular child support payment schedule as failure to pay may lead to the suspension of one’s business or driver’s license, seizure of property, wage garnishment, and even arrest. It’s therefore important to let the court know as soon as possible if your current situation makes it difficult for you to pay child support, advises Kersh Law Firm.
Kersh Law Firm, P.C., is a legal family law counsel established in 2013 with offices located at the Alabama Suite in Houston, Texas. It serves clients in Houston’s Brazoria, Fort Bend, and Harris Counties. Visit this blog for related posts.
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If the court requires you to pay child support, such payments will continue to be made until your child reaches adulthood, or if certain instances occur like your child becomes an active-duty military personnel. If your child has special needs, these payments may last longer.
Each state in the U.S. has its own set of child support guidelines, and it’s typically up to the judge to determine how much child support you have to pay regularly. Again, this is governed by custody law. Most of the child support is paid by the non-custodial parent, which by law mirrors the fact that a custodial parent does not have sufficient financial resources to fully provide for the child.
Calculating child support becomes more complicated for joint custody scenarios, often decided upon based on the percentage each parent is contributing to the joint income. The more income contribution one parent has, the more they will pay toward child support. Income is often determined based on a variety of factors like wages, commissions, annuities, pensions, and social security and retirement benefits.
Aside from the given that parents want the best for their children, it’s important to both maintain a regular child support payment schedule as failure to pay may lead to the suspension of one’s business or driver’s license, seizure of property, wage garnishment, and even arrest. It’s therefore important to let the court know as soon as possible if your current situation makes it difficult for you to pay child support, advises Kersh Law Firm.
Kersh Law Firm, P.C., is a legal family law counsel established in 2013 with offices located at the Alabama Suite in Houston, Texas. It serves clients in Houston’s Brazoria, Fort Bend, and Harris Counties. Visit this blog for related posts.
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