We can assist you in determining the appropriate amount of child support owed, collecting on child support arrears (past due child support), or modifying a current child support obligation.
In North Carolina parents have a duty to financially support their children until the reach the age of 18 and graduate from high school. If both parents have a combined income of $300,000.00 or less, North Carolina has a simple formula that calculates child support based on how many overnights per year each parent has the children. Therefore, once you figure out the custodial arrangement you will be exercising, child support can usually be settled without the need for litigation.
In North Carolina our courts utilize the North Carolina Child Support Guidelines. These guidelines consider the number of children for whom support is sought, each parent’s gross income, costs for work-related childcare and medical insurance and any extraordinary expenses. The guidelines also consider other children (from a prior or current relationship) that are not the subject of your support matter.
If parents have a combined income of over $300,000.00, the court will consider the reasonable needs of the children for health, education, and maintenance. The court will also consider the standard of living of the children and their parents before determining an appropriate child support amount.
Once a child support amount is ordered it can be modified. Common reasons for modification are a substantial increase or decrease in a parent’s income or a significant change in the cost of childcare or medical insurance. For example, when a child begins school and is no longer in need of daycare the amount of child support may be modified.
One of the most important things to remember with child support is that even if you do not have an agreement in place you should always pay child support, especially if the children are not living primarily with you. If the court determines you are or were not paying an adequate amount, you may be ordered to pay attorney’s fees in addition to back child support.
Calculating what your child support payment should be, or what child support payment you are owed, can be confusing. We can assist you in determining the appropriate amount of child support owed, collecting on child support arrears (past due child support), or modifying a current child support obligation.
Contact us today to speak with an experienced child support attorney today to discuss what we can do to help.
