Child support is when one parent is required to provide financial support to the other, which can be mandatory or agreed upon in a custody agreement. Child support helps cover expenses such as food, clothing, education, and general living costs for the child.
Child support is a common factor in contested divorce cases involving a child or children. As a divorce and family law office in St. Louis, we know how important the divorce negotiation process can be when things like child custody and child support are at stake.
Child support payments are negotiated on a case-by-case basis. Each state sets rules for how much and when parents must pay child support. Because laws vary from state to state, consulting with an attorney before signing child support, custody, and visitation documents is essential. We are here to help you learn everything there is to know about child support and how hiring the best divorce lawyer is the first step to getting the results you want.
Haefner Law Office is known for two things: the highest quality divorce and family law services and flat-rate fees.
Before we begin, we review your case and help you understand every aspect of filing an uncontested divorce. We also want to give you a clear understanding of what our services will cost. Like our flat-rate divorce services, family law services, like child support, are provided at a flat rate.
Haefner Law Office’s attorneys specialize in every aspect of divorce and family law. We have extensive knowledge of Missouri’s child custody laws, and we have the experience to help you achieve your goals when going through a divorce. When it comes to child support, some of the services we provide include:
We know every aspect of Missouri’s child support laws and can outline the specifics of paying and receiving child support. Whether you need help negotiating the payments or with the payments you will receive, our team of skilled family law experts will be able to give you the representation and support you need throughout the entire process.
In most child support cases, the non-custodial parent will start making payments when the court issues the child support order. However, you may receive retroactive child support payments. Retroactive child support payments mean that the court may order the non-custodial parent to pay child support for the period before the court order was issued. This is often the case when the child is very young, and the child support order was issued after the child’s birth date.
If you and the other parent agree on the terms of child support, you can put it in the divorce agreement. If you didn’t write down the terms of child support in the divorce agreement, you may have to go to court to establish a child support obligation. Generally, when you go to court, the judge will consider many factors to determine the amount of child support, including:
Resource: When does child support end in Missouri?
As we previously stated, several factors contribute to the cost of child support, and each state has different child support laws. Luckily, we have a Missouri Child Support Calculator that can help you calculate how much each parent will be responsible for contributing to child support costs.
You can also talk to a local child support lawyer or seek help from divorce mediation services.
Child support is a legal obligation in Missouri. It ensures that both parents contribute to their child’s upbringing, regardless of their marital status.
Child support covers the child’s basic needs, which include food, clothing, shelter, and other necessities. It’s not a punishment for the non-custodial parent but a means of sharing parental responsibilities.
The amount of child support is determined by several factors, including the parent’s income, the child’s needs, and the custody arrangement. It’s not a one-size-fits-all calculation.
The Missouri Child Support Enforcement Agency enforces child support laws in Missouri and plays a crucial role in ensuring that child support orders are followed.
When you become a parent, the world around you changes. You have to take on new responsibilities and make difficult decisions about your and your child’s futures. While this is not always easy, it can also be one of the most amazing experiences. If you are the custodial parent of your child, then you most likely need to get child support from the other parent.
This can be a challenging process, as the non-custodial parent might not agree to pay support or be unwilling to help financially at all. However, things do not always have to be this way. An experienced attorney can assist you with getting the child support you deserve and ensure that the non-custodial parent continues making payments on time and in full moving forward.
In addition to child support payments, the non-custodial parent might be paying for other miscellaneous items. These could be things like reimbursement of medical expenses, health insurance expenses, or even expenses for the child’s extracurricular activities. These miscellaneous expenses are often not included in the child support agreement. So, if the non-custodial parent is paying for them, you might consider hiring a child support attorney. They can help you enforce these types of payments. They can also help you get financial assistance if you think that your child might be entitled to government assistance.
