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Whether you are in the midst of a divorce or trying to calculate child support with an unmarried spouse, setting the correct amount is critical.

You want to ensure that your child receives everything they need financially, whether that means getting necessary medical care or having enough money for clothes, school supplies, and other needs. Child support is designed to provide much-needed support for children with divorced or separated parents.

Several factors can determine how much child support a parent will have to pay. When calculating child support in New Haven, the state aims to provide the child with a comparable level of support they would have received if the parents remained married. Contact a seasoned child support attorney today to learn more about this process.

Parental Income as a Factor of Child Support

Connecticut uses a percentage-based system to calculate how much child support a noncustodial parent will pay. Because of this, high-earning individuals may end up paying more total child support than those with lower earnings.

However, the amount is designed to reflect the parent’s income and the funds and support the child would have received if both were living in the same home. In cases where the parents split custody of the child, the higher-earning person will often still pay support to the other parent, although there may be a basis for a lower deviated amount.

How the Number of Children Affects Support

The number of children will have an impact on how much child support is ultimately paid, with a higher percentage of net-weekly income being applied for every additional child. During a meeting, a New Haven lawyer can help calculate the precise percentage and amount of child support, and answer additional questions.

Parenting Time and Determining Child Support

Some parents determine that one will have the majority of the parenting time to create consistency for the child or to ensure that the child can quickly get to school or other important commitments.

Other parents, however, may have a more equal split of time with the child. As a result, child support may shift to reflect the time children spend with each parent.

When parents have equal custody, it may be appropriate to reduce the support amount compared to a primary custody scenario, however, the deviation criteria would need to be satisfied for a judge to find the reduction is supportable. Equal or shared custody does not always result in lower child support payments, especially where there is a significant disparity in the parents’ income. In addition, the court may consider which parent takes on most expenses, such as who pays for school or medical bills.

Examining Financial Hardship

Financial hardship can influence the amount of child support a noncustodial parent has to pay. For example, parents may need to request a modification of child support due to financial hardship in cases of:

  • Job loss
  • Decreased hours or demotion
  • Significant illness leading to high medical costs or decreased earning capacity

A lawyer in New Haven can help determine whether a client has grounds to modify a child support arrangement and calculate a fair outcome.

Speak With an Attorney in New Haven About Calculating Child Support Today

Child support is designed to ensure that when parents are no longer together, the child still receives all the financial support they need. Our reliable family attorneys can help both primary custodians receiving child support and noncustodial parents who provide payments.

Contact Dolan Divorce Lawyers for help calculating child support in New Haven.

Connecticut Family Lawyer | CT Family Law | Dolan Family Attorneys N/a
129 Whitney Ave #3A New Haven CT 06510 (203) 720-6874