Child support in CT is a legal obligation of one parent to make payments to another parent for the benefit of their shared children, as well as pay a percentage of expenses for unreimbursed medical expenses and work-related child care. Specifically, Connecticut child support compensates a parent for their children’s basic needs and expenses, including health care, childcare, clothing, housing, food, and educational needs.
If you are in the process of divorcing or separating from your partner, talk to a Connecticut child support lawyer about making or receiving regular payments. A dedicated family law attorney can help you understand the process of requesting, contesting, or modifying child support. Reach out to our firm today to learn how we can help you protect your best interests and your child’s right to financial aid.
In every child support case, the parties must submit a Connecticut Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, which calculates child support according to a formula that considers the parties’ respective incomes. Family courts will utilize the amounts and percentages calculated by the guidelines, and may also consider a variety of factors in fashioning final orders, including::
An experienced lawyer can help parents in Connecticut understand what the court may take into consideration when ruling on child support.
Occasionally, the court permits parents to deviate from Connecticut’s child support guidelines for reasons such as extraordinary income, shared parenting time, and significant child expenses. It is best to ask a knowledgeable attorney about when a deviation is acceptable and what level of departure might be appropriate in a given situation.
Child support in CT ends when a child reaches 18 years old or graduates from high school, whichever occurs later. The court may also issue a support order for a child with disabilities who is dependent on the custodial parent. These types of court orders may last until the child turns 21.
It is important to note that a parent’s obligation to pay child support persists even if they do not have visitation rights with their children. Moreover, if the custodial parent remarries, it does not automatically cancel the Connecticut child support order. However, a skilled attorney can help a parent request a modification to a child support order after a significant change in circumstances.
If you wish to request child support from a former partner, or if financial support is being demanded of you, reach out to a legal professional right away. Petitioning the court for a child support order can involve complicated considerations of net income and a child’s needs, and you want to be sure an accurate support order is calculated.
The legal team at Dolan Divorce Lawyers can guide you through the process of seeking a child support judgment that favors you and adequately addresses your child’s needs. Contact a Connecticut child support lawyer as soon as possible to schedule an initial consultation and learn how you can protect your legal rights.
The sooner you find a legal representation, the better. The legal advice you receive can help you avoid making very costly mistakes that could be used against you in the future in a divorce proceeding. Your lawyer can help guide you to make sure you properly document any evidence that comes up to ensure it’s validity in court.
The attorneys at Dolan Divorce Lawyers have experience representing both male and female clients at all different junctures of the divorce process. We understand that a divorce can be one of the most difficult periods of a person’s life, and we pride ourselves on providing our clients with the best possible representation during this tough time. If you are in the process of getting divorced, or feel that your marriage has broken down beyond all hope, call Dolan Divorce Lawyers now for a no obligation consultation to see if we are the right fit for you.
Child support should not be confused with alimony. It refers to ongoing periodic payments meant to be used for the benefit of a child rather than the benefit of the spouse. Connecticut courts are extremely serious about enforcing child support obligations among parents. Because child support is for the benefit of the child, and not the opposing spouse, child support obligations cannot be waived by either parent. If you are a parent who fails to pay child support, your wages can be withheld, your driver’s and professional licenses can be suspended, and you can even be incarcerated until you satisfy your payment obligations.
In Connecticut, child support is calculated according to the Connecticut Child Support and Arrearage Guidelines. The Guidelines use the combined income of the mother and father and number of children to set a child support amount. After child support is set, it can be later modified as the parent’s income level changes.