How a Child Support Attorney in Concord, NC Can Help You?

Wondering how a child support attorney in Concord, NC, can help you? Family law professionals can review the details of your case to know how to most effectively advise and represent you.

Understanding Child Support Laws in Concord, NC

In the state of North Carolina, every parent has a legal obligation to reasonably provide for their child. This includes providing for their child financially as well as addressing their child’s needs for food, shelter, clothing, medical care, and education. When a child’s parents are getting a divorce or are not together, it’s not uncommon for one party to be ordered by the court to provide regular child support payments to the other parent.

Either parent may be required to pay child support, as both parties reserve the right to petition the court for a child support order. Often, it’s the parent with whom the child primarily lives who receives support from the other parent. One source found that, on average, about 19.2 percent of the receiving party’s annual income comes from child support. Currently, the average yearly amount of child support for the receiving parent, whose average annual income is $47,784, is $9,167.

There are four primary ways that child support may be arranged in North Carolina. One way is for the Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSE) to outline the child support order. An order can also be obtained by both parties signing a Voluntary Support Agreement (VSA) before a judge also signs it, making it legally enforceable.

Parents can also agree to a child support amount and arrangement outside of court, including the order proposal in the final separation agreement they submit to a judge for approval. The final way is for one parent to file a civil complaint in order to seek child support.

Assessing a Child Support Agreement

There are several factors the court must take into account when assessing whether a child support order is sufficient. These factors include:

• The current income of each parent, as well as each party’s potential earnings, including any investments or other sources of revenue
• The child’s past, present, and future financial needs: necessary living expenses, costs for daycare, education, healthcare, etc.
• Whether the child has significant medical needs
• The family’s current standard of living
• The paying party’s previous child support obligations, such as for another child

How Does a Child Support Attorney Help Me?

There are several benefits of working with a qualified child support lawyer. An experienced child support attorney can help you understand various child support laws and expectations, in addition to your rights as a parent in North Carolina. Whether you’re the paying or receiving party, a family law professional can ensure child support payments are fairly calculated by facilitating negotiations on your behalf.

A child support attorney can also help you enforce the court order, and they may represent you in court if the paying parent refuses to provide necessary support. Additionally, if you are seeking to modify a previous child support order, an experienced family law attorney in Concord can advocate on your behalf in pursuing a court order modification. Child support issues in Concord are most likely to be processed at the Cabarrus County Courthouse, located at 77 Union Street South, Concord, NC 28025.

FAQs

Q: Can You Avoid Paying Child Support in North Carolina?

A: No parent is eligible to avoid paying child support altogether in North Carolina, as state laws require that both parents contribute to their child’s upbringing financially. Normally, the parent with whom the child lives receives support payments from the other parent. The party who is ordered by the court to provide child support cannot avoid paying it. This could be considered violating a court order, which can bring about legal consequences.

Q: Is It Worth Getting a Lawyer for Child Support in NC?

A: Yes, it can be worth getting a qualified child support lawyer, whether you are the paying or receiving parent. When establishing a child support arrangement, your lawyer can ensure the amount to be paid is fair and reasonable, given your personal circumstances. Child support attorneys are there to help enforce the terms of the court order and, if needed, take matters to court if there are concerns about paying or receiving support payments.

Q: What Should I Do If My Ex Isn’t Paying Child Support in NC?

A: If your ex is refusing to pay child support or is behind on payments, it’s important to take action by working with a child support attorney. If your ex is unable to pay the support payments because of changes in their personal life, such as losing a job, it’s important that one of you attempts to modify the court order. Child support arrangements are court orders, meaning they are legally enforceable, and not following them can result in legal troubles.

Q: How Is Child Support Calculated in North Carolina?

A: In North Carolina, child support is typically calculated with a mathematical formula outlined in the state’s child support guidelines. The formula is relatively straightforward, but your family law attorney can give you a support estimate based on this formula and advise you on various unique support issues. Other factors that can impact calculating child support include if either parent is self-employed or voluntarily unemployed, and if your child has special needs.

Q: What Is the Average Child Support Payment in NC?

A: The average amount of annual child support received by the receiving parent in North Carolina is around $9,167. This amount would be paid throughout the year in regular installments by the paying party, likely on a monthly basis. Generally, child support payments make up about 19.2 percent of the receiving parent’s annual income on average.

Child Support Legal Counsel in Concord, NC

Lancaster and St. Louis, PLLC, has extensive experience guiding parents through child support and custody issues.

Our skilled, professional legal team is prepared to work dedicatedly on your child support case. Contact us today to schedule an initial meeting with an experienced child support attorney.