Family law cases may trigger two different kinds of support payments – child support and spousal support. In a divorce, both types of support are possible. Child support can be ordered in other family law cases.
Support payments are made from one party to the other, usually on a monthly basis. Support payments can be collected by garnishment. Failure to pay when due can result in contempt of court proceedings.
Our Calculators
We’re not fans of surprises and we suspect you aren’t either. We built these divorce calculators just for you, so you know what to expect every step of the way.
Major factors in calculating child support include the number of overnights, health insurance costs, relative income of the parents, and some education-related expenses.
Factors import for calculating child support are often not as clear as we would like. For example, a parent’s income may be hard to determine based on their status as a stay-at-home parent, or because they receive bonuses, or overtime, or are independent contractors instead of W-2 employees.
When two parents are no longer living together, they must figure out how they’ll continue to support their child(ren). Generally, one parent becomes the custodial parent, which means this is who the child(ren) will live with the majority of the time. This parent is responsible for day-to-day accountability, while the other parent gets visitation.
Because this custodial parent takes on so much of the expense, the other parent must help with child support.
Courts enforce this for a couple of reasons. First, it’s essential to keep the child(ren) in mind and how they’ll be cared for. Secondly, this keeps both parents being responsible and engaged regardless of who has primary care.
Spousal support is often called either maintenance or alimony. Spousal support is money that’s owed from one spouse to the other, above and beyond a property division. It may be temporary, or it may be permanent. It’s usually ordered in a fixed amount, for a fixed period of time. For example, a judge could order $1,000 per month for the next 5 years.
Generally speaking, spousal support is a property division, and the property being divided is a spouse’s wages. Think of it as the higher earning spouse’s future income is property to be divided. But, since it would be unfair to give the lower income earning spouse a share indefinitely, the court sets a term for payment of their share.
Failure to pay support payments can result in stiff penalties. Those penalties may include jail time or loss of your driver’s license, depending on the amount owed and reason for a failure to pay. It’s better to make arrangements than get a court involved.
We help with various support issues and would love to sit down with you and talk about your circumstances and see if there is a need for legal representation.
Please contact us today by filling out this form or calling us directly at one of our offices. See our locations page to grab a number.
Our Team
Managing Partner
Managing Partner
Associate Attorney
Associate Attorney
Senior Attorney
Senior Attorney
Managing Partner
Senior Attorney
Managing Attorney
Associate Attorney
“My attorney is David Collins. Although I feel like everyone in this office cares about and works on my case. David has done nothing but incredible work. He supports me as a mother and fights for my rights nonstop. He cares about my opinion on all steps we take and always consults me before making moves. I’m very glad I hired him. Especially since all the work he does, to me, is worth way more than the super affordable prices I’m actually paying.”
“Pleasure to work with this team. I recommend them to anyone wanting legal assistance. I can’t thank them enough for helping me thru a bump in my life.”
“Louisa is a great attorney I would very much recommend her and the company! I’ve had a great experience so far and love working with her.”
“My divorce was rather messy but I was so grateful to have had Karlee in my corner. She helped me at my lowest point making sure I was informed every step of the way. Most importantly I could communicate with her at any point in the process and she was there for me. Karlee I can never say thank you enough for helping me through on of the most difficult times in my life. Your a life saver for sure! If you are looking for a lawyer who will go the distance and then some she is your gal for sure!!”
I received a great deal of help and care when working with my attorney through my legal issues. I would highly recommend this firm to anyone needing help with family legal matters and would most definitely work with them again in the future.
“Katie and all the ladies down in the springs are very knowledgable and compassionate.”
“I’m fortunate that I had a very amicable divorce so, when I had some questions concerning, laws, paperwork, etc., I turned to Modern Family Law and was connected with their attorney. She was patient, knowledgeable, thorough and supportive. Getting divorced is not fun and not understanding all the legal mumbo jumbo makes it just that much worse and she made sure to explain everything to me so I understood what was going on and she was always available when I had questions. Modern Family Law made a very difficult process so much easier and a little less painful. Thank you Modern Family Law!”
I have worked with the team in the past and they have helped me tremendously. They helped show me direction in a family matter that needed taken care of fast and discrete. I would definitely call them again for legal advice in the future.
“Until I met Karlee, I had lost all hope. I went through three attorneys in a highly contentious custody case. My ex-husband’s attorney was not a family law attorney, making an incredibly sensitive and emotional situation more difficult to navigate. Karlee got the job done in an efficient manner while keeping costs on point. She listened to my frustrations and what I wanted to accomplish and she made it happen. If you need an attorney who is honest and has a thorough knowledge of not only family law, but other aspects and understanding, this is the firm to go with. They are not just empty promises. They make it happen!”
Easy to work with, great work overall!
Dave and his staff are very knowledgeable and deliver on everything that was promised during my time working with them. I highly recommend Modern Family Law to anyone searching for quality, reliable service.
Support
Child support is a critical aspect of ensuring the well-being of children after a separation or divorce. In Washington State, the laws are clear about the obligations and consequences associated...
Read article
Support
Child support is designed to secure the financial well-being of children following parental divorce or separation. For individuals earning $2,000 per week, understanding how this income affects child support payments...
Read article
Support
The person who pays child support in Texas is the obligor, and the person receiving child support is the obligee. In 1989, Texas Legislators introduced statutory “guideline child support”. This...
Read article
