Answers To Your Child Support Questions
Are you concerned about how you will provide for your child’s health, education and welfare following your divorce? Do you need help establishing or enforcing a child support order? At Southern Oaks Law Firm, Lafayette attorney Taylor Fontenot helps parents across Acadiana address child support issues in a friendly and effective manner. Give Taylor a call today to discuss your options at 337-704-7255.
Frequently Asked Child Support Questions*
What is Child Support?
Child support is an obligation to provide financial assistance for the raising of your minor child. Under Louisiana Law, parents generally have a duty to support their minor children. When parents separate, a child support order seeks to ensure that each parent remains financially responsible for the child’s health, education and welfare.
Who Owes Child Support?
The Louisiana child support guidelines set forth a rebuttable presumption as to who owes child support and what amount they owe. A court may deviate from the guidelines only if they find the result is inequitable or not in the best interest of the child. Further, under certain circumstances, the court may review and approve a stipulation between the parties.
The recommended child support order will be based on a number of different factors as set forth in the guidelines. Those factors include:
- Number of children
- The parties’ gross Incomes
- Net child care costs
- Children’s health insurance costs
- Extraordinary expenses (private school, extracurriculars, etc.)
- Extraordinary medical expenses (ADD/ADHD, ongoing medical expenses related to disability, etc.)
How Do I Get Child Support?
In your divorce proceeding or a separate action, the court can determine who owes child support and what amount is owed. Depending on the nature of your custody arrangement, you and your family law or child support lawyer will complete one of two worksheets to determine the amount of child support you are due or perhaps the amount you will owe.
Generally, a Worksheet “A” will be utilized to calculate child support when the parties do not share custody equally. On the other hand, a Worksheet “B” will be considered when custody is shared equally (50/50) by the parties.
Can the Support Order Be Modified?
A change in your financial situation or other circumstances may justify a modification of a previous child support order. In general, an award for child support can be modified if there has been a sufficient change in your circumstances between the time of the previous order and the time modification is requested. Ask a local family law or child support lawyer if a modification is appropriate for your specific situation.
Get Answers To Every Question In A Consultation
You can get a comprehensive answer to your questions by talking to the attorney at Southern Oaks Law Firm. Contact our Lafayette office now by calling us at 337-704-7255 or by sending us an email.
*General information only; not intended as legal advice. Always consult an attorney to discuss your specific rights and obligations.
