Give Your Child Financial Stability
Pursue Child Support With An Attorney In Spring Hill, Florida
Child support assistance is designed to help parents and guardians with primary custody raise their children. If you’ve recently been through a divorce, your financial situation is probably not the same as it used to be. You don’t have to struggle to make ends meet. You can pursue child support with help from the Law Office of Karen C. Ozyjowski, P.A.. From my Spring Hill, Florida location, I can assist you with file filing the necessary legal paperwork.
Contact Law Office of Karen C. Ozyjowski, P.A., today to get started.
Put Your Child’s Needs First
As a parent, I how difficult this process can be. As a seasoned attorney, I know what judges will look for when making their decisions. To decide whether or not you qualify for child support assistance, a judge will consider your:
- Current job status
- Your annual income
- Your partner’s financial situation
At the end of the day, the judge will make a decision based on what’s in your child’s best interest. They’ll take into account issues around health care, visitation and day care.
Frequently Asked Questions About Child Support In Florida
How is child support determined in a divorce or child support case?
The gross monthly incomes of the parties are combined, then you look up the child support guidelines for the total monthly support obligation for the number of children based on that total combined monthly salary. Then each party’s income is divided into the total to figure out each party’s portion of the liability. If there are day care expenses or health insurance premiums, this will increase the total support obligation and the party paying the same will receive a credit for their portion of the amounts paid. The number of overnights a parent has will also affect the child support paid; the more overnights a parent has the less support will be owed.
What happens if child support payments are not made?
Failing to make court-ordered child support payments in Florida is taken very seriously and can lead to problematic legal consequences. The receiving parent may ask the court or the Florida Department of Revenue (DOR) to enforce the child support payments. As a result, the following repercussions can occur:
- Wage garnishment: Income may be taken directly from your pay to cover support.
- Tax refund interceptions: Tax refunds may be taken to resolve overdue payments.
- Licenses suspension: A parent’s driver’s, recreational and professional licenses may be suspended.
- Liens: A lien may be placed on bank accounts or property, limiting their use.
- Contempt of court: A parent may face fines or jail time for refusing to follow a court order.
Parents cannot simply ignore child support payments or revert to informal agreements. If payments fall behind because of financial strain or other difficulties, they need to ask the court for a modification. Parents can speak to an experienced family law attorney to learn about your options.
Are there any tax implications for paying or receiving child support?
Parents often have to consider how taxes can impact them after a divorce. However, parents should be aware that child support is tax-neutral. If a parent is receiving child support payments, they should not consider the payments as taxable income and that income typically should not be reported on tax returns. Likewise, the payee cannot deduct child support payments from their taxable income.
Misreporting child support on taxes can lead to serious legal consequences. An attorney can help parents understand their tax implications after a divorce.
Can I modify my Florida child support order if my income changes?
Yes. There are a number of reasons why a child support order may be modified, including if a parent’s income changes. A parent can prove to the court that there are substantial changes in circumstances that require modifications to a child support order.
For example, a parent may prove that they have experienced job loss, reduced hours or medical issues, impacting their financial situation. As a result, the court may lower child support payments to put less financial strain on a parent. Conversely, if a parent receives a promotion or additional hours, it can increase the amount of child support they are expected to pay.
If parents need to modify child support payments, they can file a petition with the court. Court approval is required to modify the original child support order.
An experienced child support attorney in Spring Hill, Florida, can present your case in the best possible light. Schedule your consultation today by calling 352-725-7002, or complete my online form.