Savannah Child Support Lawyer
How do I apply for Child Support in Savannah?
Do I need a Savannah child support lawyer to apply for child support in my case? Getting the best Savannah child support lawyer for your case could absolutely make the difference. Child support can be very document/paperwork heavy and slight mistakes could throw off the amount. If you are in a divorce, filing for child support is simple. In a divorce, child support can be requested in the initial pleadings early on. Your divorce will not be finalized until you and your attorney have calculated the child support amount and submitted it to the judge for approval. Child support can also be requested outside of a divorce. If the parties were never married, child support may be ordered as part of a paternity action or legitimation action.
Once you have decided on an attorney to hire for your case, you and your attorney must fill out the Georgia Online Child Support Calculator. The Child Support Calculator will take your gross monthly income and your spouse's gross monthly income and add them together as a total gross monthly income amount. The calculator will see how many minor children you have, and compare the number of children and the total gross monthly income to determine the presumptive monthly amount of child support.
Once child support is decided, it's important to remember that child support could be modified upward or downward after the fact. The financial circumstances of the parents or the needs of the children could change over time. If you experience some of those changes, it may be time to modify the child support amount to reflect those changes.
Even though child support has been court ordered, that doesn't mean the other party will pay it. What happens if they don't make child support payments? The penalties for non-payment of child support can be strict. Non-payment can result in being held in contempt of court, wage garnishment or even jail time.
If you've got child support questions, we've got
answers. Call now for a free Savannah child support consultation.
How is Child Support Calculated in Savannah?
In Savannah and throughout the state of Georgia, child support is calculated the same way - by using the Georgia Online Child Support Calculator. What is the Child Support Calculator? The child support calculator is really just an online worksheet that uses the parties' income information to calculate a presumptive amount of child support. When filling out the online calculator, you will first enter in basic information like the County the parties live in, names of the parties, and names and ages of the minor children.
Once you've filled out the basic information, it's time to
enter in your monthly income information. Both parties will need to provide
their monthly gross income numbers. It's important to note that gross income includes more than just salary or income from your job. It includes
bonuses, tips, interest income, severance pay and more. Once you've entered in
your income information, you'll need to document health insurance and child care
costs paid by the parents. Finally, the last step is to consider adding any
deviations. Deviations are adjustments to the child support amount that
move the amount upward or downward depending on the deviation.
While filling out the online child support calculator can be a complicated process, your Savannah child support lawyer will fill out the online child support calculator for you and work with you to ensure the information is accurate.
Could the Child Support Amount be Modified?
Yes. Life is unpredictable and things can change rapidly. If your circumstances have changed, it may be time to consider modifying the child support amount upward or downward. Court ordered child support is something you must comply with. However, if your circumstances or your ex's circumstances have changed, you could have a case for modification. The first step is to file the child support modification petition as a new civil action. In the modification petition, you must show that there was a change in the income or financial status of either party or there was change in the needs of the minor children. Even if there is no change in circumstances, if custody has changed, modification of child support may be necessary to reflect the changes in custody.
It should be noted that if this isn't your first time filing for modification of child support, then you must show that 2 years have passed since the date of the last petition for modification of child support. Modifications of child support are filed as separate lawsuits and require a lot of documentation and procedure. It's best to hire an experienced Savannah child support lawyer to assist you with child support modifications.
What Happens if Child Support isn’t being paid in Savannah?
Child support awards are court ordered and must be followed by the obligated parties. What if child support isn't being paid, or you're having trouble collecting child support? In Savannah and throughout the state of Georgia, there are penalties for non-payment of child support. Since child support is court ordered, you could be held in contempt for not paying. Contempt is a legal action brought against someone who willfully fails to comply with a court order, like child support. Contempt is usually the first option brought by parties who seek to enforce their child support orders. Contempt isn't the only penalty however. The non-paying party could have their wages/earnings garnished to satisfy the child support debt. They could also have their driver's license, professional license or business license revoked. Finally, the non-paying party could be imprisoned for failure to pay court ordered child support.
The penalties for non-payment of child support
can be stiff. If you are unable to collect child support, it's best to contact an
attorney to inquire about filing a contempt action. If you are unable to pay court
ordered child support, you may have some defenses available to you. Again, it's
best to contact an experienced Savannah child support lawyer to assist.