If you are in the process of obtaining a divorce or have already finalized your divorce, and have an outstanding child support judgment against the other parent, you need to hire a qualified Phoenix custody lawyer to assist you. Our team of attorneys can help you with a wide variety of family law cases including, but not limited to:
A child support judgment is an amount that one parent (the obligee) pays to the other parent (the obligor) in order to provide financial support for their children. The court typically uses a formula to determine the amount that should be paid based on various issues and criteria. These factors include the parents’ incomes, other children the parties have together or have physical custody of, day care costs, healthcare expenses and the cost of education.
During a child support hearing, the judge will listen to testimony from both parties regarding their incomes and the financial needs of their children. The judge will then calculate an appropriate amount of child support and issue a child support order. Once the order is issued, it is binding and cannot be modified by either party unless a substantial change in circumstances has occurred.
Our family law firm helps clients establish, modify and enforce child support orders. Our goal is to minimize stress for our clients and ensure that their financial stability is not jeopardized. We understand that divorce is a difficult time for everyone involved, particularly the children. We take the time to get to know our clients and their families so that we can effectively guide them through the legal process and achieve a positive outcome to their case.
When it comes to establishing child support, our Arizona family lawyers follow the state guidelines. These guidelines are based on the parents’ combined monthly income, other children the parties have together or have custody of, each parent’s relative time with their children, child care costs, medical and dental insurance costs, and any extraordinary expenses related to the children’s needs.
In some cases, the court will deviate from these guidelines and award a higher or lower amount. This is usually the result of a party having a significant increase or decrease in income, extraordinary expenses for the children, or other special circumstances.
A child support modification must be requested by the custodial parent or the non-custodial parent, and must be based on a substantial change in circumstances. A change in circumstances can be any event that affects the parent’s ability to pay or receive child support, such as a job loss, an injury, or a serious illness. In addition, a change in custody may also prompt the need for a child support modification. Our team of attorneys can help you navigate the complex laws that govern these matters and advocate for your rights.
