Get Help Determining Accurate Child Support
Child support payments can be a significant part of your monthly budget. As a result, you want to be sure those payments are calculated accurately.
At Rowe Law Offices, P.C., our attorneys offer a free initial phone consultation to answer your questions about child support. From our offices in Wyomissing and Lancaster, we represent clients who pay child support as well as those who are entitled to receive support.
Our lawyers can assist you with:
- Establishing a support order
- Attending support conferences and hearings
- Modifying a support order after a change in circumstances
- Terminating support after a child is legally emancipated
- Enforcing a support order
- Child support arrearages
- Seeking contribution for day care, extracurricular activities, sports fees and medical insurance premiums
Pennsylvania Child Support Guidelines
In Pennsylvania, child support is based on:
- The income or earning capacity of both parents
- The number of children you support
- Your child custody schedule
- Day care and health care costs
Our lawyers will go over the calculations so you can get an idea as to how much you might expect to receive or pay.
Determining income is often the most complex child support issue. If a parent is self-employed or has income from other sources, it may take a forensic accountant to accurately determine income for purposes of calculating child support.
New Child Support Guidelines: Pennsylvania changed its child support guidelines in August of 2013. If you already have a child support order that was established before that date, you may request a modification. You may be eligible to receive a higher support amount.
What Happens To Past Due Child Support When The Child Reaches 18?
Child support payments are typically made until the child reaches age 18, or the majority age. However, past due child support does not simply disappear when the child reaches the age of 18. Those late payments are in arrears, and the parent responsible for paying must continue payments until the balance is paid in full.
Read more in this blog post: Past-due child support after reaching the majority age
Can I Get Help With Child Support If My Co-Parent And I Were Never Married?
As a family law firm, Rowe Law Offices, P.C., can handle child support cases for parents who were never married. We will help you understand your rights and obligations, navigate the legal process and advocate for your interests in court if necessary.
Some of the ways our family law attorneys can help include:
- Help you understand what you are entitled to receive or obligated to pay
- Negotiate with the other parent or their attorney to reach a fair and reasonable child support arrangement
- Draft legal documents, such as child support agreements or petitions to establish or modify child support orders
- Represent you in court If your case requires court intervention
The best way to start is with a phone consultation. Contact our experienced and skilled family law firm for personalized legal advice and representation tailored to your situation.
Steps To Take If Your Co-Parent Fails To Pay Court-Ordered Child Support
If your co-parent is not paying their court-ordered child support, there are several steps you can take to address the situation:
- First, talk with the other parent to understand why they are not paying child support. Negotiation may sometimes help resolve disputes over child support payments without litigation.
- Keep records of all missed payments, including dates and amounts owed.
- If the other parent is still not meeting their obligation, contact the Pennsylvania child support enforcement agency and file a complaint.
- If the other parent continues to disregard the court order despite enforcement efforts, you may need to file a motion for contempt with the court.
- If the issue proceeds to a court hearing, be prepared to present your case and provide evidence of the other parent’s non-compliance.
Each person or family’s situation is unique, so connecting with our Pennsylvania family law attorneys is a great first step to take. We’ll help answer your questions and make responding to issues like this easier.
For More Information About Child Support
To schedule a free initial phone consultation with a child support lawyer today, call Rowe Law Offices, P.C., at 610-816-0935 (Berks County), 717-382-8360 (Lancaster County), 570-362-6837 (Schuylkill County) or 866-232-1913 — or send us an email.