Child Support Lawyers in Birmingham, AL
When parents divorce, figuring out parenting arrangements and child support is only a small piece of the pie. Parents going through a custody case or divorce case also should consider just how to handle the payment for the support of their young kids. According to Alabama law, both parents are responsible for financially taking care of their kids, which is made clear in an official document that sets up child support.
Alabama has a set of requirements when it comes to what amount of child support to be paid would be considered fair. In the majority of cases, if you and the other parent easily come to an agreement or if you have to take your matter to trial, the state will base your child’s support on an official court order.
That said, a lot of other factors will be taken into consideration during the process of figuring out child support, which includes expenses related to the child, how the support will need to be paid, and making sure those child support orders are enforced.
The Birmingham child support attorneys at The Rose Law Firm LLC can assist with your needs in regard to child support. We will work hard for you to ensure you are taken care of and that you and your family are treated well, both leading up to and during a court process.
Why Should I Use an Attorney for My Child Support Case
A knowledgeable child support attorney can be a key tool during the whole process of child support, not only in the most challenging family law cases. Alabama’s child support laws include adamant rules on the levels of monetary support parents need to provide, as the responsibility for making sure their children are taken care of falls on both parents.
Because the algorithm and details for determining the proper amount of support are often complicated, it can be challenging for anyone who is not familiar with child support laws to know what’s actually fair or the best decisions to make.
Child support law is much more than simply crunching numbers on a website. The actual numbers matter and legal controversies often arise pertaining to those figures, such as the parent’s finances or the child’s needed costs.
If the other parent has enlisted a decent lawyer, this is especially true. Our Birmingham, AL child support lawyers help strategize your best next steps, file a claim if the other parent refuses to pay their set amount and make sure you’re on track to meet all required child support guidelines before turning in your paperwork.
How Does Alabama Determine Child Support?
Alabama has a set of child support guidelines that were created to make sure that each child gets a fair amount of financial assistance from each parent. Some of the main points factored into the calculation of child support include the incomes of each parent, along with the costs of things like daycare, health insurance, arts, sports, and other activities.
One other major factor affecting the amount of monthly child support comes from the actual child custody agreements and the amount of one on one parenting time each parent is allotted. There can be other factors that can also have an impact on the actual child support amount, such as children by other parties or additional finances received. Often, whichever parent has less time with the child will end up being the one who pays child support.
That said, in scenarios where the incomes are drastically different, it is certainly possible that the parent with more custody could also have to pay child support to the parent that is given a lesser amount of parenting time.
In the same way, an equally split custody schedule doesn’t necessarily mean no child support will need to be paid unless the two incomes are on par with each other. We should also note that child-related expenses are, for the most part, split in a way that is equal to the parents’ incomes, regardless of who pays the monthly support.
Your Birmingham child support attorney will be able to analyze your situation and determine what is fair and reasonable for you.
When Do Child Support Payments End?
When physical custody of their child is awarded to a parent in a divorce, they are considered the child’s custodial parent. This is the individual with whom the kids live and spend the most time. Because of this, the custodial parent will have a good deal more responsibility in contrast to the non-custodial parent.
They have to provide a safe home, education, food, clothing, and any other major things that are a part of a child’s life. These expenses can be pretty overwhelming for one parent to shoulder on their own, which is exactly why the non-custodial parent is required to pay child support to help out. The law requires these child support payments to be made right up until the child hits “the age of majority.” In Alabama, this is age 19.
That said, the court knows that every family situation is completely different from one another. There isn’t a “one size fits all” answer to child support, and each case is treated differently. That is why child support payments do not always stop at 19 years old.
Often, the court will make an exception to have child support payments extended or terminated early. Your child support lawyer will help you figure out how long your child support agreement will last.
Do I Really Need a Child Support Lawyer Birmingham AL?
In Alabama, the child support issue comes up in the majority of divorce, child custody, or child support cases with kids. In this scenario, you could use the help of a Birmingham child custody lawyer. Every child should have support from each of their parents, both emotional and financial.
Time spent in their children’s lives, as well as financial assistance, is very important for a young kid’s well-being. Finding an experienced child support lawyers is a great way to make sure that your children receive the financial support they deserve.
No matter what type of family law help you need, the child support attorneys at The Rose Law Firm LLC are here for you. Our Birmingham child support lawyers understand that this isn’t just a legal case for you; it’s your family and your future. In every case, we take time to learn about who our clients are and provide specific help and support that is tailored to their specific needs.
Our lawyers are understanding and have the resources and experience to ensure you get the best possible outcome in your child support case. Contact us today at (205) 858-9224 to schedule a consultation with a member of the Rose Law Firm LLC team.