Anchorage Child Support Lawyer

The topic of child support is bound to be an issue that brings up tense and uncomfortable feelings between divorcing couples. Besides having to deal with the emotional and financial aspects of marital property dissolution, a couple with children will also have to contend with child custody, visitation and support matters. Even in the cases of a couple that have remained civil and amicable, when dealing with issues involving minor children, it is a good idea to talk to an Anchorage child support lawyer.

Although it is the right and obligation of both parents to provide a stable, loving upbringing for their minor children, some people do not like the idea of handing money to an ex-spouse and will refuse to pay child support. Unfortunately, when dealing with a parent that refuses to pay child support, it does not hurt the ex-spouse; so much as it affects the children. The money ordered for child support goes towards taking care of the children of a divorced couple, and when it is not paid, it can make a very real difference in the ability the other parent has to properly provide. When you are not receiving the child support you deserve, it is time to contact a family lawyer to pursue the matter.

Getting the Money You Deserve

How can you compel the other parent to pay their court ordered child support? Though it may take some time and patience, with the assistance of a family law attorney the non-paying parent can be penalized and held responsible for not paying child support. Withholding notices are not automatic, but by having an attorney, a person can file to have the ex-spouses wages withheld in order to recoup past due child support.

If a person has refused to work or is hiding income from the court system, a lawyer will help uncover the individuals assets and secure child support through a variety of legal methods.

The only type of withholding that takes priority over child support is if the individual has a tax levy from the federal government due to unpaid taxes. Even if a parent has declared bankruptcy, he or she will still be legally obligated to pay child support through the courts. Debts due to child support arrears are not discharged under a bankruptcy and can be withheld from a paycheck, seized through a tax refund check, received from the sale of the assets owned by the non-paying parent or by a variety of other methods including loss of license and imprisonment.

What are Child Support Payments?

Child support payments are the legal obligation a parent has to provide for the support and financial care of a child or children after the parents have divorced. Most often it is the non-custodial parent that is ordered to pay the custodial parent child support, but each case is unique and should be handled by a family lawyer to yield a favorable outcome.

What is Covered By These Payments?

Child support payments cover the basic necessities a child needs for day-to-day life and a court might order specific amounts of money to be paid for expenses related to:

• health insurance,
• child care,
• special needs,
• housing,
• education,
• medical care and other allotments.

Each state uses different guidelines when computing child support, and it pays to consult with a family lawyer in order to better understand what your minor children are entitled to receive. Factors that could influence child support payments include ages of the children, parental income, medical expenses, parental assets, daycare costs, time spent with non-custodial parent, previous child support order, insurance costs and many other things determined by the court. In most states, a person is required to pay child support on a set date each month and when there are issues between the ex-spouses, it might be a good idea to consult with a family attorney.

Meet with a Child Support Lawyer

When there are issues concerning child support, custody and visitation, it might be a good option to hire an Anchorage child support lawyer. All states have a child support enforcement division, but if you are not receiving child support, sometimes it will happen faster with the help of a lawyer. Receiving child support is the right of the minor children of divorced parents and when it is not paid, the truth is that the children do suffer. When you have an order for child support and are not receiving the money you are owed, hiring an attorney will yield the results desired. With the assistance of a family law attorney you can rest assured the situation will be handled properly and that someone will be acting as an advocate for you and your children.