Child Support Attorneys in Dallas

Providing Exceptional Legal Guidance You Need

After a divorce, the children will continue to need the support of both parents and, to ensure their needs are satisfied, a judge will usually order the non-custodial parent to pay child support until the children reach the age of 18 or graduate high school.

At The Law Office of Ellen Schutz in Dallas, we understand that this is often a critical issue for divorcing spouses and will do everything necessary to ensure your child support order is fair and meets the needs of your children.

Contact The Law Office of Ellen Schutz in Dallas today at (214) 301-3418 to set up an initial case review with one of our knowledgeable child support attorneys.

Will My Custody Arrangement Determine Child Support?

Generally, child support obligations vary depending on whether both parents have joint custody or if one parent has sole custody. If one parent has sole custody, it is assumed he or she is already fulfilling any necessary support obligations. The non-custodial parent, however, must pay child support to the parent with sole custody to ensure he or she is meeting this obligation. In cases where divorced spouses have joint custody, child support is based on the income of each party and the percentage of time spent with the children.

Calculating Child Support

Although no two cases are alike, there is some basic criteria followed by most states when it comes to calculating child support.

Here are some of the factors a judge will consider when determining child support:

• The children’s financial needs, such as daycare and education
• The custodial parent’s needs and income
• The paying parent’s income
• The children’s standard of living before the divorce

What if I Disagree with the Child Support Order?

If you disagree with the child support order, you can request a hearing and argue your justifications for why you believe the order should be altered. However, to discourage incessant modifications, the court typically will not grant such changes unless the petitioning party can prove a substantial change in circumstances.

Some of the changes in circumstances a judge will consider include:

• Change of job for either parent
• An increase in cost of living
• The children’s needs increased
• Receipt of additional income
• Either parent developed a disability

In some cases, a temporary modification might be requested if the paying parent’s disability or job loss is temporary or one of the children has a medical emergency. If you do not agree with your child support order, you must continue to pay it. Otherwise, in addition to overdue support payments, you might face some steep fines and wage garnishment.

Discuss Your Case with a Knowledgeable Family Law Attorney

At The Law Office of Ellen Schutz in Dallas, our family law team knows how important it is for you to meet the needs of your children and how complex matters of child support can be. To ensure you receive an order that is fair and adequately supports your children, reach out to our law firm for the legal advice you need to navigate this process.

Get started today and contact our law office at (214) 301-3418 to schedule a consultation.