Reasons To Hire A Reputable Lawyer In A Child Support Case
Did you give birth as a single mom? Or has your relationship status changed since you had your child? If so, its your obligation to protect your child and seek out monetary support for care if you wish to do so. If you don't have a child support case established already, you'll need to make arrangements with the court so a case can be generated. While you can file for child support at anytime with the courts, its recommended to retain counsel so that your rights are protected.
Establishing A Support Amount
The main concern with child support is deciding on how much the non-custodial parent will pay in support. This begins when you file a petition to the court for child custody and support. From there, the prosecuting attorney will work on contacting the biological parent of the child. Then paperwork is dispersed regarding a questionnaire about income and living arrangements regarding the child. The court will go over the documentation and make a temporary decision on custody and child support. A referee hearing is then held so each party can voice any concerns and come to a final agreement on child support. If at this time you are not satisfied with the decision, it's time to dispute. Having a reputable lawyer specializing in child support and custody with you at the hearing will make sure that you are treated fairly and your terms are met. If not, the case will go to the judge and will be settled at a future court date. If child support enforcement is an issue, the arrangement could turn into charges being brought upon the parent who is behind on payments.
Child Custody Arrangements
Making sure that you have a lawyer represent you during a child custody case is important. This could be through the course of a divorce proceeding or while establishing custody outside of a marriage. Child custody can be intricate and complicated if one or more of the parents cant agree to parenting terms. If this is the case, you'll have to prove that the other parent isn't fit to care for the child or meet the child's needs as set forth by the court. It gets complicated when you have to call in witnesses and sometimes medical and school records to verify information. A good child support lawyer will be able to collect the documentation and present it properly to the judge.
Who Pays Medical Support And How Much?
One thing to consider with a child custody arrangement is who pays medical support for the child.This amount is often worked into the child support amount and depends on who carries the child under their health insurance. Because it can fluctuate per household, making sure that the amounts are accurate and carefully articulated is something that can be done by your lawyer's office before being submitted in the final case documentation.
Child support can be complicated and fluctuate through the years. Having a good reputable lawyer on retainer will give you the piece of mind you need. Contact a law firm like Crome Law Firm for more information.