When you’re looking for a good lawyer, it really helps to know what to look for. Here are some of the things that make for a competent child support lawyer:

• Related Case Experience: Experience in similar situations is one factor to consider when selecting the best child support lawyer for you. Look for an attorney who specializes in the areas that your situation necessitates.

Brightwell Law PLLC has demonstrated over the years that we can handle any problem. From basic legal custody issues to complex child support enforcement disputes, our Pensacola family law attorneys can help.

• Understanding of Jurisdiction Laws: State laws on land vary greatly. A child custody attorney familiar with local laws is your best bet in this situation. It makes sense to hire an attorney well-versed in Florida law and how to achieve the best possible result. Our Pensacola family law and child support attorneys are here to help.

• Child Support Expertise: When looking for the best child support attorney to represent you, consider both specialty and experience. Our law firm focuses on child support issues, and we believe that this will enable us to provide you with the best possible outcome for your case. Make an appointment with our child support attorney as soon as possible.

Whether you are a custodial parent or a parent compelled to pay child support, we can offer you the legal advice and information you deserve. Please visit us in person or send us a brief message via our website to schedule a consultation with our law office.

The law states unequivocally that all parents must provide financial support to their children, regardless of their involvement in the child’s life. Child support is the monthly amount that a court orders the noncustodial parent of a child to pay to the parent with primary custody.

It helps pay for a child’s daily needs, such as food, shelter, clothing, and medical care. It is crucial to note that noncustodial parents cannot tell the custodial parent what to do with the monthly payments.

Who is Responsible for Child Support?

Both parents are accountable for their child’s upbringing. Child support standards established by legislation are used by states to determine how much child support each parent is obligated to pay. Noncustodial parents (those with whom the kid does not reside primarily) are usually required to pay child support to the custodial parents.

How is Child Support Calculated?

When calculating child support, a key consideration is the time-sharing arrangement between the parents. Judgments often allocate time-sharing in proportions like 50/50 or 80/20. In rare instances, one parent may have 100% time-sharing, though this is no longer commonly referred to as custody.

The details of the time-sharing arrangement significantly impact the calculation of child support, ensuring that financial responsibilities are equitably distributed based on the amount of time each parent spends with the child. Our approach prioritizes the child's well-being while striving for a fair outcome for both parents.

How Frequently is Child Support Paid?

That is entirely dependent on the terms of the child support arrangement. Although it is usual for courts to require support payments to be made monthly, there may be instances when payments are made weekly, biweekly, or even bimonthly. Parents can undoubtedly seek that the court approves a particular timetable, but it is up to the judge to decide whether or not the suggested schedule is appropriate.

How Long Do You Have to Pay Child Support?

The law only compels parents to financially support their children until the child turns the age of majority. Emancipation happens in many circumstances when the child achieves the age of majority, which in most states is 18. 

A court may emancipate a minor under the age of majority (typically between the ages of 16 and 18). This is more likely if the child is financially self-sufficient, married, or in the military. Some states compel you to continue supporting your kid until they reach the age of 18.

If the court removes your parental rights through a court hearing, you are not required to maintain your children financially. Whether you agree to the termination to allow another person to adopt your kid or the court deems you guilty of abuse or neglect, your duty to pay for the child will usually terminate.

Is it Still Necessary for a Father Who Never Married the Mother to Pay Child Support?

Yes. Whether the couple got married or not, the law compels both parents to support their children.

However, before a court can award child support, the judge must first find that you are the kid’s biological parent. Many unmarried dads willingly sign a statement of paternity at the hospital to accept fatherhood. Some unwed men are discovered to be biological parents following paternity litigation, in which one parent (or the state) initiates a case, and the claimed father submits to a DNA test.

How Do I Enforce a Child Support Order?

Once a court has issued a child support order, it is non-negotiable. The concerned party is obligated to make the child support payment on time and in full each month. If child support payments are not paid on time or in whole, the receiving parent may seek child support order enforcement. 

The Florida Department of Revenue houses the Florida Child Support Enforcement Program, which has the authority to seize the other parent’s earnings and take additional steps to ensure payments are made when they are late. If you are unclear about what to do if your child’s other parent is failing to make payments, call the Department of Revenue and consider hiring a child support lawyer.