Child support payees and payors alike are effected significantly effected after a child support hearing concludes. Modifications for child support may only be initiated as a result of a change in circumstances, so if you are not satisfied with your order it could be a few years before financial relief becomes available. Receive a final child support that is fair to you and your children with these four ways to get your act together prior to your pending child support hearing.
1. Collect Your Income Records for the Last Three Years - If you have been collecting overtime or recently changed jobs you will want the judge to know what you are capable of earning on average. Parents who go to child support court without their last three years of financial records may be accused of hiding income. Talk to your child support lawyer about any event that has impacted your earning capability, such as disability, incarceration, or even jury duty so that the calculations made in court are fully representative of your current financial situation.
2. Print Off All Childcare and School Tuition Receipts - Parents may sometimes volunteer to pay for outside expenses for their children. While it may be in your child's best interest to pay all of their childcare bills upfront, the other parent might not want to give you any credit. Bring in receipts that show your voluntary childcare and school tuition support to see if your child support lawyer can have your order amended.
3. Calculate Projected Payment Amounts With Your Child Support Lawyer - A child support lawyer can send a formal request for production to the custodial or non-custodial parent, enabling you to formulate how much child support you may be paying or receiving. Knowing how much the other parent is earning will allow your child support lawyer to give you more individualized advice. In the event that the other parent does not want to cooperate with your child support lawyer, the court can step in and provide you with income records from the Department of Labor.
4. Bring Your Custody Agreement With You - The number of days that you have your children with you overnight may help you in receiving more or paying less in child support. Your child custody agreement will outline how you and the other party share childcare responsibilities. Once that information goes into the child support calculator there might be a big difference in the amount of money that becomes payable. Your child support lawyer can also make arguments on your behalf as to why a previous child support order caused you financial hardship, which may cause the judge to deviate from standard calculations.
