Chesapeake Child Support Attorney

Money can be a frightening topic during a divorce. Each party will be concerned about how much they need, how much they have, and how much they will gain or lose.

Unfortunately, child support can get wrapped up in these concerns. A system that is meant to help feed, clothe, and protect your kids becomes a source of frustration and antagonism.

Our firm is here to help with your child support agreements. We understand that these payments should not create an undue burden on the payor, nor should they leave the receiver destitute. Our team of attorneys can argue for a reasonable payment that benefits everyone.

Our Chesapeake child support lawyers are standing by to hear from you. For help, call The Law Offices of Daniel J. Miller today at (757) 267-4949.

Which Parent Pays Child Support in Virginia?

It’s important to remember that both parents pay child support. This fact can be difficult for some people to understand, and it’s easy to get confused. One parent does make direct payments to the other, this is true.

However, the parent who receives these payments also uses their income directly on the children. They support the kids through the day-to-day expenses of feeding the kids, clothing them, buying groceries, and so forth.

Any reasonable child support agreement considers this fact. Our firm will help you negotiate a fair payment, one that accounts for the income of each parent.

How Is Child Support Determined in Virginia?

Courts consider several factors when ruling on child support. These considerations include:

• Each parent’s income
• Any special circumstances, such as the child’s health
• The amount of physical custody each parent has with the children
• The children’s financial needs, and the parent’s ability to meet these needs
• The number of children the payor supports, even if they have children from another parent.

What if My Child Support Payments Are Too High?

Child support should not put the payor in financial straits. When calculated properly, these payments should not be much higher than what you were spending on the kids before the divorce.

Our firm will work closely with the courts to help make sure child support meets the children’s needs while protecting the payor from financial ruin. The outcome should work for everyone – the payor, the receiver, and the children. Our goal is to make sure all stakeholder’s needs are met.

Modifying Child Support Payments

If there is a problem with your child support ruling, we can work with the courts to help bring these payments down to a fair, manageable level.

Perhaps you divorced long ago, but significant life changes have altered your ability to keep up with the original payments. Such changes can justify a child support modification, and we can work to help prove that alterations are necessary.

Life changes that can impact your child support payments include:

• A Change in Income
  If you, through no fault of your own, lose your job or get demoted, you can request a modification. Success depends on whether such changes are semi-permanent. A better-paying job for either spouse could also call for a modification.
• The Birth of a New Child
  Child support is based on the number of kids you have, even if they come from another parent. If the payor has a new child, they can lower their payments.
• The Receiving Parent Remarries
  In most cases, spouses legally share incomes. If the receiving parent remarries, their income technically grows, and the payor may be able to reduce their payments.

Our attorneys are here to help with all your child support needs in Chesapeake. Whether you need help with a new ruling or need to modify your current payments, we are here for you. You can reach our lawyers online or call us today at (757) 267-4949.