Campbell Child Support Lawyers

Guiding Parents Through Child Support Agreements

If you’re getting divorced or separating from someone with whom you share children, you will have to address some family law issues, including child custody and child support. If you’re worried about the latter, it’s time to contact a skilled California child support lawyer for guidance on your family law case.

When you hire a child support attorney at Hepner & Pagan, LLP, you will get the answers you seek regarding which parent will have to pay child support and how much the payments will be. We can also help you work out a child support agreement that is fair to the receiving parent, the paying parent, and the children. Call our Campbell law firm to set up your initial consultation.

How Does the Court Calculate Child Support?

Whether you expect to pay or receive child support payments, you’re probably curious about how much child support will be. California child support is calculated through a formula that considers these factors:

The income of each parent
The amount of time each parent spends with the children
The number of children the parents share
Any mandatory payments the parents have, such as required union dues or retirement contributions
Whether one or both parents pay child support for other children

The child support order is supposed to be in the children’s best interest, as it’s meant to ensure that all the needs of the children are met. This is the responsibility of both parents, which is why the court adheres to the California child support guidelines as much as possible. If you have questions about paying or receiving financial support in California, contact our Campbell law firm today to get answers from a knowledgeable child support attorney.

What Is An Add-On Cost?

The support you get should help cover basic needs, such as food, housing, healthcare, and clothes. However, many child support orders also request money for add-on costs, which are extra expenses. Some add-on costs are mandatory, while others are at the parent’s discretion. The most common add-on costs include:

Daycare while the custodial parent works
Special healthcare needs, such as medication, counseling, or braces
Educational needs, including tutoring
Extracurricular activities, including sports and camps

You, the other parent, and your child support attorney will need to agree on the right add-on costs for your family. Call our law offices today to discuss the child support obligations that will affect you.

What Happens When Child Support Payments Are Late?

Once a child support order is in place, you should be able to relax and know that your child’s needs will be met. However, not all parents pay the amount they are supposed to. If your child’s other parent is late with their child support payment or has yet to make any payments, child support attorneys can help.

When you hire a child support attorney to pursue back payments, they will file a motion for contempt on your behalf. This will lead to a court hearing, during which a judge will decide if the parent willfully refused to pay what they owe according to an existing order. If so, the court will tell the parent that if they don’t pay, they face these penalties:

Fines
Jail time
Community service
Liens on their property
Wage garnishment
Garnishment of government benefits

If you need help getting the money you’re owed from your child’s other parent, contact a Bay Area child support lawyer today. We offer child support services for clients tired of struggling with family issues on their own.

How Can Child Support Lawyers Help?

At Hepner & Pagan, LLP, we have handled countless child support cases for valued clients. We realize how stressful it can be not to have the income you need to give your children the life they deserve. You should be able to rest assured that you can afford their clothing, housing, healthcare, and other expenses. If the other parent is not contributing their share, you should get help from caring Bay Area divorce attorneys.

If you’re ready to discuss your family law matters with a compassionate legal team that has years of experience going to court for clients, call us at 408-688-9153. We’d be happy to schedule a initial consultation so you get the legal answers you need.