Gadsden Child Support Lawyers

Do I Need a Child Support Lawyer?

Child support orders might be included in a divorce decree. With unmarried parents, child support orders might be part of paternity actions, custody, or support petitions. In addition, support may be a part of cases involving the Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR).  In all instances, a child support attorney can help when:

• Income is disputed
• A parent is self-employed
• Custody is also an issue
• A parent claims they can’t pay child support
• Health insurance or childcare costs are at issue
• Payments have stopped
• A support modification may be needed
• Support when parties share custody

Missing records, assumptions, incorrect information on forms, and so much more can change the outcome of child support proceedings. Having an experienced and attentive child support attorney on your side helps to protect your rights and ensure your child is provided with the support they need to live their very best life.

Schedule Your Confidential, No-Risk Consultation With a Gadsden Child Support Lawyer Today

If you are dealing with a new child support case, a support change, or a parent who won’t pay, Cusimano, Roberts, Mills & Knowlton is here to help. Call us at (256)-543-0400 to schedule a no-obligation, private case consultation with one of our Gadsden child support attorneys and let us make the process as simple, smooth, and peaceful as possible for you and all involved children.

How Is Child Support Calculated in Alabama?

Child support is usually based on a set formula, established in Rule 32 in Alabama. The court looks at things like each parent’s income, childcare costs, health insurance costs, and prior child support and/or alimony orders. The Court also takes into consideration whether or not the parties share joint custodial time or one party is the primary custodian of the children. 

That may sound like a simple process, but it can easily get complicated.

Problems can come up fast. Income can go up and down. Someone may leave out important information. Parents may disagree about childcare costs, insurance, or how much time the child spends with each parent. In some cases, one side may ask the court to use a different amount than the guideline number.

This is one reason it helps to have an attorney on your side. A Gadsden child support lawyer can help make sure the right numbers are being used, the right forms are being filed, and the full picture is presented to the court. This can make a real difference. A child support order can affect your finances and your child’s future for years to come.

What Factors Can Affect Child Support?

A child support calculation may involve factors such as:

• Each parent’s income
• Work-related child care costs
• Health insurance or cash medical support
• Preexisting child support actually paid
• Preexisting periodic alimony actually paid
• Whether a parent is unemployed or underemployed
• Whether the court has a legal reason to deviate from the guidelines

Rule 32 states that gross income can include wages, commissions, benefits, pensions, interest, workers’ compensation benefits, Social Security benefits, unemployment benefits, gifts, prizes, and other income from various sources. The court can also assign a suitable income amount, even if it’s not being made, if a parent is believed to be voluntarily unemployed or underemployed to avoid paying child support.

What information will impact your support case? That’s one of the things our Gadsden child support lawyers can help with. During your complimentary consultation, we can discuss child support calculations in greater detail to help you understand how they may apply to your case.

Does 50/50 Custody Mean No Child Support?

Custody arrangements can impact child support, but a 50/50 split might not eliminate it. Rule 32 includes a shared 50% custody adjustment, which changes how support is calculated. But income, child care costs, and health care coverage still come into play, even when physical custody is evenly split.

Child support can quickly get confusing. An attorney from Cusimano, Roberts, Mills & Knowlton can help to simplify the process, explain your options, and make sure you are treated fairly.

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When Can Child Support Be Changed?

Child support can sometimes be changed. But there has to be a reason, a material change in circumstance to warrant a modification of an existing child support order. Usually, the court will want to see a real and lasting change, such as:

• A parent’s income goes up or down
• A parent loses a job or becomes seriously injured
• Childcare costs change
• Health insurance changes
• The child’s needs change
• Parenting time changes

A child’s medical needs can also be a reason to ask for a change, even when the basic support amount stays the same.

Not every change in life will justify a new order. But some changes do. These changes allow for an immediate request for modification.

What Happens if Child Support Is Not Paid?

When a support order isn’t paid, arrears can build fast. The options may depend on the order, payment history, and the reason for the nonpayment of support.

The DHR has a Child Support Division that helps families obtain support orders and secure compliance with courts. Enforcement tools used by the DHR may include income withholding, credit reporting, tax refund intercepts, passport denial, financial account liens and levies, and possible suspension, revocation, or withholding of driver’s, professional, sporting, or recreational licenses.

While DHR can assist with enforcement, it’s still a good idea to talk to a child support attorney. A lawyer can assist with contempt of court petitions, secure orders for wage garnishment and asset seizure, and help with interest collection. This helps to take pressure off of parents already dealing with a lack of support.

The child support lawyers at Cusimano, Roberts, Mills & Knowlton can help:

• Review support orders
• Look at payment records
• Calculate arrears
• File the right court papers
• Address wage withholding issues
• Help seek compliance with the order

Sometimes the issue is noncompliance. Sometimes the issue is an order that needs to be updated. Sometimes it’s both. We can help you sort out what’s going on and work to get you both the current and past support your child is entitled to receive.

Why Choose Cusimano, Roberts, Mills & Knowlton?

Child support cases are important. They can also be emotionally charged. You need a Gadsden child support lawyer who offers relentless support while protecting your rights and fighting for the best possible outcome.

At Cusimano, Roberts, Mills & Knowlton, we give clients the kind of personal attention that is easy to lose at bigger firms. But we also bring the deep experience and real legal knowledge that these cases demand. Our team has nearly two centuries of combined legal experience. We know how to prepare these cases and represent our clients.

We don’t believe in sugar-coating problems. We believe in telling you the truth, helping you understand your options, and putting in the work your case deserves. We are proud to help parents in Gadsden, Birmingham, Huntsville, Chattanooga, and across Alabama provide the best life for their children.

Talk Confidentially With a Gadsden Child Support Lawyer

If you are dealing with child support issues in Gadsden, Etowah County, or anywhere in Alabama, contact Cusimano, Roberts, Mills & Knowlton online or call us today to schedule a no-risk, no-obligation case review. We are here to help protect your rights, your child, and your future.