While divorces are rarely easy, those involving children are often complicated and can result in hard feelings between two people who were once very close. A great deal of stress during and after a divorce comes from child support, and problems surrounding the payment of that support. Working with a Naperville child support lawyer can help you find a way forward, but it is also important to understand some of the most common issues related to child support that divorced couples face.
Payments Are Too High
During a divorce, child support payments are set based on the noncustodial parent’s income, as well as the number of children in the situation, and the custodial parent’s income. It’s a complex equation, and the judge has the ultimate authority over it. It’s also not uncommon for what was once a reasonable payment amount to become an unreasonable financial burden. This is most common in situations where the noncustodial parent’s income has changed, or if they have lost their job completely. In this instance, it may be necessary to revisit the child support agreement and set a lower amount.
Payments Are Not Being Made
While some noncustodial parents find that they are facing payments that are too high for their income, others simply stop making payments altogether. For custodial parents, this can be an incredibly frustrating situation, as the noncustodial parent is in flagrant violation of the divorce decree and the judge’s orders. It also has a dramatic impact on the quality of life of the child in question. In this instance, enforcement actions can be taken.
Moving Forward
Determining the right path forward can be difficult in both situations discussed above. In each situation, a great many factors must be taken into consideration, including financial obligations to children by other spouses, the actual net income of both parents, the actual needs of the children in question, and more. It can be a difficult balancing act, and requires the assistance of an expert Naperville child support lawyer.
At Keller Legal Services, our aggressive child support attorneys have years of experience working with both custodial and noncustodial parents to find and reach an equitable arrangement that benefits both parents but ultimately ensures that the child or children in question enjoy a good quality of life and financial stability.
