Attorneys Offering Skilled Guidance In Child Support And Other Family Law Matters
At Astor Weiss Kaplan & Mandel LLP, our attorneys provide guidance and representation in a wide variety of family law concerns, including child support. While Pennsylvania’s child support calculations are formulaic in nature, it is important to work with a skilled attorney to ensure that the financial information submitted to the court accurately reflects each parent’s financial status and the financial needs of the children. After reading through this page, feel free to contact us for answers to your child support questions and to discuss your legal needs.
A Basic Overview Of Pennsylvania Child Support
In Pennsylvania, once parties separate from the same household, certain rights are triggered, including the right to child support. The amount of child support is determined by the Pennsylvania Child Support Guidelines using the parents’ combined net monthly incomes. The right of the child to support continues until the child reaches age 18 or graduates from high school, whichever occurs later. One caveat is that child support may continue beyond the normal termination dates if the child is disabled.
Why It Is Important To Work With A Child Support Lawyer
There are many factors that are important to the calculation of child support, including:
- Health insurance costs
- The custody schedule
- Taxes
- Child care costs
- Additional child-related expenses
You may need the assistance of a child support lawyer when your spouse or the other parent has a complex income structure. Total income might not be as simple to determine by looking at a paycheck or even a tax return. This is especially the case where the parent owns his or her own business or is a manager at a publicly traded company. In addition, there may be special circumstances in your case that may allow for an increase or decrease in guideline support. For example, you may be entitled to additional support if your spouse or the other parent has the child less than 30% of the time.
Consider meeting with a child support lawyer to get more information on your rights and responsibilities concerning supporting your children. It is also important to review your child support order periodically since child support is always modifiable based upon a change in circumstances, such as an increase or decrease in income, a change in the custody schedule or a change in state law.
Contact Our Firm To Discuss Your Legal Options
Astor Weiss Kaplan & Mandel LLP has a large family law department with lawyers who are experienced in the area of child support to assist you. To schedule an initial consultation, call us at 215-790-0100 or fill out our online contact form.