If you have come to our page because you pay child support or are owed child support, we want you to know that we understand how difficult this situation can be. At The Ault Firm, we know that divorce and separation are hard on everyone, especially when there are children involved.
We also believe that every child has the right to be supported by their parents, regardless of what led to the separation and we want to ensure that their needs are taken care of. If you think you need a Salt Lake City child support attorney, we are ready to help you through what can be a confusing and emotional time.
The Goal
The goal of Utah’s child support laws is to ensure that both parents pay a fair share of child support. Under state law, both parents are responsible for financially supporting their child in the event of a separation. There are a number of things taken into consideration when examining what a fair amount is for each parent. The court will look at how many children there are, custody arrangements, as well as the income of both parents.
Why is The Support Amount Different Depending on Custody?
There are different kinds of physical custody: sole custody (child lives with one parent), joint custody (child lives part-time with each parent), and split custody (parents divide the children between them if more than one child). If a child, or children, spend more time with one parent than with the other, then that parent may be required to pay less actual money because they are already providing more in other ways (housing, food, other bills).
Also taken into account will be which parent will be covering childcare (if necessary), insurance, medical expenses, and school tuition.
Modifying Child Support Payments
After separation, the conditions of both parents will undoubtedly change over time. If your former spouse gets a new job and their income increases, you could petition the court for more child support from them. Similarly, if you lose a job or your income changes, you could petition the court to lower the amount you have to pay. In Utah, the court will hear petitions for modifying the amount of child support if there is an increase or decrease of 30 percent or more in income. There are other conditions for this, which you can read here.
What To Do
The goal of child support is not to punish either parent. Rather, it is to ensure any children the parents had been taken care of to the best of the parents’ ability. Children are the most vulnerable when it comes to separation and divorce. At The Ault Firm, we want to help you come up with the best solution for everyone involved. If you need a child support attorney in Salt Lake City, our experienced attorneys can take you through the entire child support process. We know this is a difficult time in your life and we want to help. You can contact us by clicking here or calling 801-539-9000.
