As you move through the divorce process, you know you will have to deal with a variety of questions and concerns. If you have at least one child with the other individual, it’s safe to assume that questions regarding child support and custody will move to the forefront.
It’s important to learn as much as possible about child support and payment calculations, as you don’t want to face any surprises in the future. You want to know exactly what to expect and how things will unwind as the court process moves forward.
Child support is formulated at the state level, although there are some federal guidelines in place.
Here are the types of details that the court will consider when determining how much child support is to be paid by one parent to the other:
The overall financial needs of the child, including day care, insurance, education and any special requirements
The income of the parent with custody
The income and the ability for the non-custodial parent to pay child support
The child’s standard of living before the divorce or separation of the parents
In order for the court to get an overview of the situation, they will request financial information from both individuals. Even though it may cause you harm in some way, you need to comply by providing the court with accurate data regarding your finances.
It’s difficult to know exactly what will happen with respect to child support and custody until you make your way through the court process.
The best thing you can do is learn more about what to expect, including how child support is typically calculated. This will allow you to understand your situation, your legal rights and the steps you need to take in the future.