Salisbury Child Support Lawyer Thoughtful Guidance. Trusted Representation.

Salisbury Child Support Attorney

Child support is a significant factor in many divorce proceedings. Both parents have a legal responsibility to financially support their children whether they’re married or not. When financial matters and child support become complex and emotionally charged disputes, it is essential to have an experienced Salisbury child support lawyer to advocate for your rights and ensure your children’s needs are met. A Salisbury family lawyer from our firm can help.

Parents Are Responsible for Providing for Their Children

Although child support obligations typically end when a child turns 18, there are some exceptions to this, such as when the child is still in high school or disabled. Under such circumstances, both parents may agree to continued support.

Parents are responsible for supporting their children regardless of custody arrangements. This includes children living with other family members or receiving government assistance.

Potential Custody Arrangements

North Carolina family law recognizes two primary types of child custody: physical and legal.

Physical custody refers to the physical care of the child. It determines where the child primarily resides, who provides for their daily needs, and who is responsible for bringing them to school and other activities. Physical custody can be shared between both parents or assigned primarily to one parent, with the other parent receiving visitation according to a predetermined schedule.

Legal custody pertains to the decision-making authority regarding a child’s upbringing. It encompasses significant decisions, such as religious education, schooling choices, and participation in extracurricular activities. Typically, courts award joint legal custody to both parents, even if one parent has primary physical custody.

What Is the “Best Interest of the Child” Standard?

The “best interest of the child” standard means that the court’s primary concern is to make decisions that will be most beneficial to the child’s well-being, both physically and emotionally.

The court may consider factors such as the age of the child, their emotional needs, health, and the stability of each parent’s home environment. The court also assesses the quality of the parent-child relationships, the parents’ abilities to cooperate, and the child’s adjustment to their community and school. For older children, the court may consider the child’s preferences as well.

Continue Reading Read Less

Hear From Our Happy Clients

Real feedback from individuals who trusted us with their cases.

At Lancaster and St. Louis, PLLC, your satisfaction is our priority! See for yourself what our clients have to say about working with us.

“Just Excellent”
“Hilary was caring, genuine, extremely professional and knowledgeable. I felt comfortable and confident in her abilities.”

- Debbie T.
“Honestly a Smooth Experience”
“Hilary helped my sister through her divorce process. She was very patient with her and understanding.”

- Stephanni A.
“Very Positive Experience”
“I used Hilary St. Louis for several legal/property matters. Her level of expertise was impeccable.”

- Martie C.
“Compassionately Resolved My Case”
“Hilary and her paralegal Sam worked with me to resolve a non-traditional family law issue involving child custody and support.”

- Amanda K.
“You Can’t Go Wrong Using Their Services”
“Hilary St. Louis and her office are amazing! I've had an attorney in the past who would NOT communicate or explain things to me, nor return my phone calls.”

- Anne-Marie C.
“I Recommend This Law Firm 100%”
“She was amazing!!!! She brought my kids home after being in a drug environment.”

- Amber S.
“Best Lawyer I’ve Ever Experienced”
“First and foremost, Hilary and her team are AMAZING! If you are needing and/or wanting the best family lawyer around this area, this is the firm you definitely need to choose!!”

- Kaylee P.
“Would Highly Without a Doubt Recommend”
“Myself and my family will always be grateful for her office and would HIGHLY without a doubt recommend her to represent you in the best ways you need!”

- Jennifer W.

View All Reviews

How Child Support Is Calculated in North Carolina

Child support is a legal obligation for parents to contribute financially to their child’s well-being, including their health, education, and essential needs. In North Carolina, the law recognizes that parents may have different financial abilities and, instead, considers the child’s specific needs when determining support payments.

The Family Court applies the North Carolina Child Support Guidelines to calculate child support payments.

The exact amount may be based on your child custody arrangement (sole, joint, or split) and other relevant factors, such as:

Both parent’s current and potential earnings, including investments and other sources
The child’s past, present, and future financial needs, such as daycare, healthcare, education, and essential living expenses
Significant medical costs
The family’s standard of living
Previous child support obligations

Calculate Your Child Support Estimation

To estimate potential child support amounts, you may use the North Carolina Child Support Calculator yourself; however, keep in mind that it is merely an estimate. The actual court-ordered amounts may vary based on specific circumstances and judicial discretion, which can sometimes deviate from the guidelines.

Start the Conversation Today

Reach out to discuss your family law concerns in a welcoming environment. You can contact us anytime or visit our office at:

891 Central Drive NW

Concord, NC 28027

Modifying Existing Child Support Orders

A significant change in circumstances must be demonstrated to modify a child support order that was made within the last three years, such as an increase or decrease in income, job loss, retirement, a change in housing, medical, or childcare costs, or a change in custody arrangements or visitation schedule.

For orders older than three years, a modification may be warranted if the difference between the current order and the amount calculated using current guidelines and income information exceeds a certain amount.

The party seeking the modification bears the burden of proof that there was a significant change of circumstances, and the court has the discretion to determine whether that change is warranted.

What Can Be Done if Child Support Payments Are Not Being Made?

Once a court mandates child support payments, the parent obligated to pay, called the obligor, must fulfill their financial responsibility as outlined in the order. Failure to adhere to these payments can lead to serious consequences, including contempt of court charges and:

Garnishment from the obligor’s income
Seizure of personal assets
Interception of tax refunds
Driver’s license suspension
Professional license revocation

Obligors who fail to comply with child support orders could face fines and imprisonment as well. North Carolina General Statute 14-322(f) outlines specific charges for willful abandonment of a dependent without adequate support.

A first offense is classified as a Class 2 misdemeanor, while subsequent offenses are considered Class 1 misdemeanors. The severity of Class 2 punishments depends on the individual’s prior criminal record:

Level I: No prior convictions, up to 30 days in jail
Level II: One to four prior convictions, up to 45 days in jail
Level III: Five or more prior convictions, up to 60 days in jail

The severity of the Class 1 punishments include:

Level I and II: One or fewer prior convictions, up to 45 days in jail
Level III: Five or more prior convictions, up to 120 days in jail.

Protecting Your Parental Rights

We understand the emotional toll that child custody and visitation disputes can take on children and their parents. We believe that many of these disputes can be resolved amicably through negotiation, mediation, and other alternative dispute resolution methods.

If those efforts fail, our skilled Rowan County child support lawyers are prepared to provide strong advocacy in court. We have experience handling a wide range of custody and visitation issues, including:

Questions about parental fitness
Disputes over visitation schedules
Denied visitation or violation of court orders
Allegations of physical or sexual abuse
False accusations of abuse
Concerns about substance abuse
Parenting plan modifications
Other significant custody or visitation matters

Our team is committed to providing you with effective and compassionate legal representation. We can support you through this challenging process and fight for your parental rights in Salisbury, NC.

Contact Our Family Law Attorneys Today

Let Lancaster and St. Louis, PLLC be your advocate. We can provide dedicated legal representation to individuals and families throughout Rowan County.

To schedule a consultation, contact us today.

Continue Reading Read Less

Meet Our Attorneys

Let’s Talk About Your Next Steps

Reach out and let our team know how we can support you. We'll be in touch shortly.

First Name
Please enter your first name.
Last Name
Please enter your last name.
Phone
Please enter your phone number.

This isn't a valid phone number.
Email
Please enter your email address.

This isn't a valid email address.
Are you a new client?
Please make a selection.
How can we help you?
Please enter a message.
By submitting, you agree to receive text messages from Lancaster and St. Louis, PLLC at the number provided, including those related to your inquiry, follow-ups, and review requests, via automated technology. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Msg & data rates may apply. Msg frequency may vary. Reply STOP to cancel or HELP for assistance. Acceptable Use Policy