Bensalem Child Support Lawyer
Dedicated Family Lawyers in Bensalem Strive to Ensure Clients’ Fair Treatment Under PA Child Support Laws
Child support is often a source of conflict when parents are separating or divorcing. When one parent has primary care of the children, in most cases, that parent will receive financial assistance from the other parent to help cover expenses. Child support is not a bad thing for parents or their children; rather, in most cases, it is an opportunity for parents to continue to invest in their children after separation.
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Child support is intended to be fair and reasonable while also ensuring that the child’s best interests are taken into account. There are several key factors you should know about child support before you finalize your divorce settlement or settlement agreement. Our child support attorneys break down what child support is and why it is so important.
The Basics of Child Support
When parents split up, there are certain steps both parents should be prepared to take for their children, including financial support.
Child support is an ongoing obligation that one parent—usually the parent who does not have primary custody of the children—is expected to pay to the other parent to help cover expenses for the children. These expenses can include the costs of:
- Childcare
- Health insurance
- Extracurricular activities
- Food
- Clothing
Child support is not to be confused with alimony or child custody, as these are completely different matters. Alimony is a payment one spouse makes to the other spouse to help cover expenses after a divorce. Child custody determines who has primary care of the children and with whom the children will primarily live after a divorce.
Get Advice From An Experienced Ambler, PA Child Support Attorney. All You Have To Do Is Call 215-822-7575 To Receive Your Free Case Evaluation.
Why is Child Support Important?
Generally, child support is used to cover the expenses associated with caring for a child. Having one or more kids to care for but only having one income can make it very difficult to afford to raise children.
Even after a split, a parent still has an obligation to take care of their children. If they cannot do this in person, then they are expected to contribute to the high costs of raising children. In some families, this support is critical to making sure bills are paid and the children maintain a good quality of life.
How is Child Support Determined?
There is no one-size-fits-all approach for determining how much child support a parent will pay to the other parent. Depending on your circumstances, a family law attorney may be able to help you determine how much child support you will pay or receive.
While each state has its own specific guidelines, there are several factors that influence how much child support a parent will pay or receive. Income is a big factor in this determination as higher earners are expected to pay more in child support. You will also likely pay child support regardless of the other spouse’s income.
When Does Child Support Requirement Begin?
Most child support orders require parents to start paying when a support complaint is filed with the court. However, in some cases, parents will enter into an agreement before this happens. In these cases, the terms of the agreement may include a provision stating when the child support requirement will begin.
When Can You Change an Order for Child Support?
Child support is intended to be a fair and reasonable amount. However, in some cases, parents may disagree with the amount they have been ordered to pay in child support. In these instances, parents have the option of filing a petition to modify the order for child support. A petition to modify a child support order asks the court to review and modify the amount a parent is ordered to pay in child support.
Schedule a Free Consultation to Learn More About Your Legal Options
If you are dealing with child support issues, it is important to hire a Bensalem child support lawyer to help you. Having the right child support lawyer on your side can have a big impact on how your case is resolved. There will also be a fair amount of negotiation involved and having a lawyer advocate on your behalf is beneficial.
Secure a talented Bensalem child support lawyer from Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford to help with your case. We have over 65 years of experience in the field and are well-prepared to help you explore your legal options. Call us at (215) 822-7575 or submit our contact form to schedule your free consultation.
Frequently Asked Child Support Questions in Ambler, PA
The short answer is yes. The law requires parents subject to child support orders to report increases in their income levels. Our attorneys have the experience and resources to help you locate evidence to prove that your child’s other parent has enjoyed an increase in his or her income; we can use that evidence to petition the court to modify your existing child support order. In addition, if your child’s other parent has been concealing an increase in his or her income for a substantial period of time, we can also seek retroactive modification of the child support order, which will require your child’s other parent to make up the difference in child support payments back to the date when their income increased.
Child support obligations are a serious matter; the courts in Pennsylvania and across the county have numerous options available to ensure that your child’s parent satisfies his or her child support obligations. Our attorneys can seek to have your child’s parent’s sources of income garnished — these sources include not only paychecks but also unemployment compensation, workers’ compensation, pension payments, and tax refunds. In addition, a court can report a delinquent parent to the credit bureaus, suspend his or her driver’s license, or make a finding of contempt to impose fines and jail time.
