Any parent who is considering filing for divorce may find discussing child support and custody stressful. Arm yourself with the facts and proper legal support from a qualified family lawyer to help you through the process. Many parents have questions about their finances and any changes in income or custody that affect their child support obligations.
What is child support?
Financial support for children is a legal responsibility of parents. In the event of separation or divorce, they still have to fulfill this duty. Essentially, both parents contribute to the cost of caring for their children i.e. schooling, health, food, leisure, etc. All the matters related to your separation and divorce will be worked out, but you still have to provide a regular routine for the children. Food, shelter, and clothing are necessary for them under any circumstances.
Avid Court Visits
You don’t have to go to court for a child support agreement. The separation process can be slow in court, which can increase the stress you and your family are experiencing. If you hire a family lawyer, it can be expensive. So a mutual agreement is better than going to court, so try to work out a solution with the other parent.
There is no judge who knows more about the needs of your children than you and the other parent. Not to forget that going to court will cost you a lot of money that can rather be spent on your child’s needs.
Child Support Guidelines
When couples separate or divorce, determining child support is generally not a court matter. It is also possible for them to come to an agreement without the aid of professionals; sometimes they can do so on their own. Parents’ annual income and the province in which the paying parent resides determine the amount that will be paid for child support.
In addition to the formula-determined base amount, you may be required to pay certain expenses. In most cases, both parents contribute to these extraordinary expenses in proportion to their income. These expenses may include medical and dental insurance for the child. Other health-related expenses such as therapy, prescription drugs, and so on are also the parents’ responsibility.
Extraordinary expenses also include the cost of school or educational programs and the expenses for the child’s extracurricular activities such as sports or art classes
What if the Other Parent Doesn’t Pay?
The payer parent should be consulted if he or she disputes the obligation to pay. The judge will determine an income amount based on what the child is capable of earning, and that income amount will be used to calculate the child support. It is possible for a judge to impute income to that parent if they are not working or working reduced hours to avoid paying child support.
According to the Divorce Act, support ends when the child is over the age of majority which is 18 and has withdrawn from parental charge. Tacium Vincent & Associates is here to help you through the tough time and guide you regarding child support.
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