Newton Child Support Attorneys

Providing Skilled Advocacy for Child Support Cases in Norfolk County, MAmother with child

In a divorce, the court might order you or your spouse to make child support payments to take care of your child’s needs. While going through the proceedings you might have many questions about who will be required to make payments, how much they must pay, when they need to make, and how the payments are remitted. Because this is a complex legal issue that can have a profound effect on your and your child’s life, it’s best to consult with a skilled attorney who can help you understand the process and the laws concerning child support.

At The Halks Firm, we will provide solid legal guidance to help you get through this part in the proceedings. Whether you are ordered to pay child support or you will be the one receiving it, we will be with you every step of the way, working toward an outcome to meet your and your child’s best interests.

Discuss your case during a free initial consultation – call us at (781) 995-0107.

What Is Child Support?

Child support is a court-ordered payment that the noncustodial parent (the one who does not have physical custody of the child) must make to the custodial parent (the one who has physical custody of the child for the majority of the time). In a divorce, families might go from having two incomes to one, and child support payments are designed to help the custodial parent take care of the child’s needs.

Child support payments are used for necessities such as:

  • Clothing
  • Daycare or other childcare costs
  • Food
  • Housing
  • Medical expenses
  • Schooling

How Is the Support Amount Determined?

When a judge is determining how much the noncustodial parent must pay the custodial parent, they will refer to the Child Support Guidelines worksheet, which both parents must fill out.

Factors the judge will consider when setting a support amount include, but are not limited to:

  • Sources of income: such as that received from overtime, secondary jobs, self-employment, and undocumented income
  • Parenting time: how much time the child spends with one parent or the other
  • Child care expenses: these costs are expected to be shared equally between both parents
  • Age of the child: child support could be awarded or denied for children 18 years of age or older
  • Costs for higher education: the judge will consider the amount of tuition for school, resources the child and parent have access to, and whether or not financial aid is available
  • Health insurance: both parents are expected to share the costs for health care equitably
  • Costs for outside activities: on a case-by-case basis, the judge may factor into their determination expenses for extracurricular activities, private school, summer camp, and other programs that serve the best interest of the child

When you hire our team, we will ensure that the Child Support Guidelines worksheet is completed accurately and that the support payment calculation reflects eligible income and expenses.

How Are Child Support Payments Made?

Typically, when one parent is ordered to pay child support to the other, the amount they owe is taken out of their paycheck by their employer. The payment then gets sent to the Department of Revenue, which remits it to the custodial parent.

Contact Our Firm to Get Started

At The Halks Firm, we understand that the child support process can be a challenging and emotional time. The judge’s decision about the amount one parent must pay to the other will have a significant impact on the family. Our lawyers in Newton are here to relieve some of the stresses associated with this step by providing experienced legal support from start to finish.

Speak with us today by calling (781) 995-0107, or schedule a free consultation by completing an online contact form.

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