What Factors Are Used To Calculate Child Support Payments? Can The Amount Of The Payment Change Over Time?
Under the Child Support Enforcement Act of 1984, child support payments are based upon each parent’s current income. This includes a number of elements including: occupational wages, assets such as stocks and bonds, welfare benefits. Other factors include the custodial parent’s living expenses and the standard of living of the child before divorce, the specific needs of the child; i.e. health insurance, educational needs, and applicable day care expenses, and the noncustodial parent’s ability to pay. However, under such circumstances as incarceration, pastdue child support would continue to accumulate (overdue payments are called arrearages or arrears), and the noncustodial parent would be responsible for paying pastdue payments when released, either immediately or in installments, as mandated by a court of law.
Child support payments can be modified over time for reasons such as an increase in either parent’s earningsthis can include additional income from remarriage, a decrease in income due to a job change, a change in custodyin which the child support order may be reversed, a change in the amount of time the child spends with each parent, or the specific needs of a child or either parent change due to a medical disability, etc.
Speak to an Experienced Child Support Attorney Today
This article is intended to be helpful and informative. But even common legal matters can become complex and stressful. A qualified child support lawyer can address your particular legal needs, explain the law, and represent you in court. Take the first step now and contact a local child support attorney to discuss your specific legal situation.
Additional Child Support Articles
- Child Support Law
- What Is Child Support?
- Calculating Child Support
- What Is Child Support Used For?
- How Do You Enforce a Child Support Order?
- Enforcing a Child Support Order Out of State
- How to Modify a Child Support Order
- When Can A Child Support Order Be Changed Or Modified?
- Intercepting Tax Refunds When a Parent Fails to Pay Child Support
- How Long Must Child Support Be Paid?
- Can Child Support Payments be Automatically Deducted from a Parent’s Paycheck?
- Do I Have to Pay Child Support if I Don’t Get to See My Children?
- Do I Need a Lawyer to Establish or Enforce a Child Support Order?
- What Other Items Do Formulas Consider?
- Child Support FAQ
- My Husband And I Have Decided To Use Artificial Insemination To Have A Child. Will The Donor Be Obligated To Support The Child?
- Can The Parent Limit The Amount Of Future Child Support That Is To Be Paid To The Other (Custodial) Parent?
- Can One Parent Be Ordered To Pay Child Support Even If She Never Married The Other (Custodial) Parent?
- I’m Marrying A Man Who Has Children From A Previous Marriage. He Regularly Pays His Child Support. Since I Earn More Than My Fiance, Am I Held Responsible?
- If The Obligor Parent Doesn’t Pay, Can Visitation Be Stopped?
- My Wife Has Threatened To File For Bankruptcy. What Effect Does Bankruptcy Have On Child Support?
- My Income Dropped Dramatically When I Was Laid Of My Job And Cannot Make My Child Support Payments. Is There Anyway I Can Lower My Child Support Payments?
- What Efforts Can Be Taken To Collect Child Support From The Parent Who Does Not Pay?
- What If The Obligee Does Not Spend Any Money On The Child?
- What Is The Parent Locater Service?
- What Other Collection Remedies Are Available?
- What Effect Does Bankruptcy Have On Child Support?
- What Is Child Support, And How Is Child Support Determined?
- Is A Father Who Never Married The Mother Still Required To Pay Child Support? What If The Father Is Not Allowed To See The Child?
- What Happens To A Father Who Refuses To Pay Court Ordered Child Support?
- Does Every State Follow the Same Formula in Calculating Child Support?
- Can A Child Support Order Be Changed Or Modified?
- My Ex Is Not Making Child Support Payments – What Can I Do?
- How Is Child Support Ordered And What Exactly Is It?
- When May Maintenance And Support Be Awarded By A Court?
- Can the amount of support payments be changed?
