Child support is an important monthly payment made by one parent to the other. Child support payments are a vital way for one parent to give financial support to a child. By paying child support, a mother or father helps with the everyday raising of his or her offspring.
Many times, parents fall behind on their child support payments. This cannot only cause the parent with custody to have financial difficulties, but it can cause the other to face legal consequences that could include jail. If you have questions about child custody, child support, or alimony, Vayman & Teitelbaum can help. Their experienced family law attorneys can give you the insight you need.
Regular Payments
Child support is calculated based on how many children you have and the monthly gross income of both parents. These payments are then made each month to the parent with primary custody of the child.
Extreme Difficulty
Child support payments are not always easy to make, and in some cases, can take much of the income from a mother or father's paycheck. Therefore, child support payments can be modified by the courts.
Parents that prove financial hardship can see their payments to their ex-spouse decrease dramatically. They will need to show proof that they have a problem earning money, however. Extreme difficulty in paying child support is just that, and it cannot be based on having a limited amount of expendable income. In some instances, parents refuse to pay child support, like in the case of former NFL running back Reggie Bush.
Other Children
Having children with another person can also decrease your monthly child support payments. The amount of money you must pay due to a new child can limit the amount you have to give in child support. Therefore, the courts will take this into consideration and may lower your payments.
Decreasing Payments by Parenting
It may sound strange, but the more you parent, the less you could pay in child support. If your child is staying with you more often and you are feeding, clothing, housing, and taking general care of him or her, you can have your monthly payments lowered.
What Happens if I Do Not Want to Pay?
Some parents do not feel they need to pay child support and some are extremely defiant when it comes to paying child maintenance. By not paying your child support, you are breaking the law and the agreement you have signed. This can land you in jail with a number of fines.
If you do not pay child support, the payments add up and you could be left with a sizeable bill that you can not pay off.
Vayman & Teitelbaum Can Help
The law firm of Vayman & Teitelbaum can provide you with legal guidance when it comes to child support. With four locations in Georgia, Vayman & Teitelbaum, Attorneys at Law, is available to give you insight on issues surrounding child support and alimony. Visit our dedicated child support page to see how we can help you. If you have any questions, contact us and let our experienced attorneys in family law go to work for you.