Spanish Fort, AL Child Support Lawyers

Spanish Fort is truly a family town. Folks who are married with children make up almost one-third of the population. Unfortunately, sometimes things don’t work out, even in a town like Spanish Fort.

Discussing finances with your soon-to-be-ex-spouse is never easy, and that’s why child support is often a contentious topic for co-parents. There’s often a disconnect between what each parent thinks should be paid, which can lead to dragged-out disputes that complicate your divorce.

If you’re getting divorced and you’re looking for the legal support you need to get through this difficult time, the team at Coumanis & York is here for you. Call us at 251-990-3083 or fill out our contact form to schedule a consultation now.

Establishing Child Support

Through Alabama’s Child Support Enforcement Division, which is part of the Department of Human Resources, parents can get paternity established and secure a child support order. The basic child support formula is fairly simple. Appendix I, the Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations, lays out how much financial support a child should expect to receive from their parents’ shared income.

Assume a combined monthly income of $3,000 and two children. On this chart, that means the children would be entitled to $838 of combined support from their parents. Parent 1 in this case is the custodial parent. Parent 2, who makes $2,000 of the monthly income, would be responsible for two-thirds of the support. This works out to about $558 that would be owed to the custodial parent.

If you and your co-parent are going through a divorce, child support will be established during the divorce process. If you and your co-parent have never been married, you will need to go through the proper legal channels to get a child support order.

While the basic calculation is fairly simple, there are many factors that can require you to deviate from the standard formula. Relevant factors include:

• Who pays for the child’s health insurance
• Childcare expenses that allow the parents to work
• Exceptional medical or developmental needs of the child
• If the non-custodial parent has a greater-than-average share of parenting time
• If the paying parent has child support orders for other children
• Additional unusual needs of the child in question

Once child support is ordered, is managed by the CSED. While some parents pay monthly to the CSED, others have child support taken directly out of their checks.

What Happens If Child Support Isn’t Paid?

Securing a child support order in Spanish Fort is one thing. Enforcing it is an entirely separate task. Parents who receive child support may request income withholding.

This allows child support to come directly out of the paying parent’s checks, which means that the custodial parent does not need to chase them down for payment every month. This is generally the easiest option for custodial parents, and assuming the paying parent doesn’t skip jobs to avoid child support, it allows them to maintain a steady source of support for their child.

The state may also take several other actions to enforce child support orders. They may report the non-custodial parent to the credit bureaus once they are at least $1,000 behind in payments. They can also seize the paying parent’s income tax returns, have their passport revoked, place liens on property and bank accounts, and suspend their driver’s license.

When to Modify a Child Support Order

The child support order that works for both parents during establishment may no longer be relevant years down the line. Generally, Alabama law allows for modification of a child support order then there is a significant change in either party’s circumstances.

For example, one parent getting a new job or losing their job would be an obvious reason for a change in child support. If the paying parent gets a big promotion, their child would be entitled to a greater amount of child support. If the receiving parent gets a new high-paying job, the other parent’s percentage of support could change.

Child support may also change if custody and parenting time change. Consider an agreement where the non-custodial parent sees their child every other weekend. This is the schedule for several years. When the child gets older, the non-custodial parent begins keeping them for three days every week. This is a big shift in how much parenting time they get, and as a result, their child support payments may go down.

Going to court for a change in child support payments does not guarantee that it will turn out the way you hope, so it’s important to talk to an attorney before you move forward. There have been cases where a parent threatens to go back to court for a modification, and they file the paperwork while angry at their co-parent. Unfortunately, when they go back to court, their order actually changes in a way that benefits the other parent.

How Coumanis & York Can Help

Child support can be a fairly complicated topic for parents since so many different factors play into your final support order. If you try to handle this on your own, you risk either not getting the support your child needs or agreeing to an order that takes advantage of you.

Working with a child support attorney in Spanish Fort means that you have an advocate you can trust. Each step of the way, we’ll explain what the other parent is attempting to do, the potential outcomes, and what it means for you.

We’re committed to finding out what you hope to get from your child support case and working toward an agreement that benefits you and your child. We know that you want to give your child what they need for a healthy and happy life, and with a proper child support order, you can do just that.

Reach Out Today—We’re Here to Help

Whether you expect to pay or receive child support, talking to a child support lawyer in Spanish Fort is your next step. Let’s set up a time to talk about your needs, where you are in your case, and how we can move forward. Go ahead and contact us online or call us at 251-990-3083 to schedule a consultation.