Fairfield Child Support Lawyer

Fairfield Child Support Attorney

Parents in Connecticut are responsible for providing financial support for their children. When the parents are in a relationship, that’s a given, but when the parents separate, who’s responsible for what can become tricky. If you’re facing separation and want to know more about child support or need to make adjustments to existing child support, an experienced Fairfield child support lawyer at Reich & Truax, PLLC can provide the trusted representation you need.

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Child Support 101

Child support is the term used to describe money a parent pays to financially support their child or children. The goal is to make sure that children have stable environments, so courts seek to ensure their standard of living is as consistent as possible with pre-separation conditions. A Fairfield family law attorney can help navigate these legal obligations. Both parents have to contribute to the child’s living expenses , even if there isn’t a formal child support agreement in place. Living expenses for a child can include:

• Housing
• Food and medication
• Doctor’s visits and health insurance
• Clothes and shoes
• Education and school supplies
• Transportation
• Daycare and after-school care
• After-school activities like sports or music lessons

Support payments are usually part of child custody arrangements in a paternity or divorce case. Generally, one parent pays a specified amount to the other after separation. This applies to couples who were married and those who were never married. In an ideal situation, the parents will reach an agreement on their own, and then a family court judge will review and approve their agreement to ensure its fairness.

However, child custody and support are often highly contentious, and in cases where parents can’t agree on terms, a judge will decide for them. Child support isn’t always necessary. However, if one parent’s income or expenses are significantly higher, one parent spends more time caring for the child, or a child has a legal guardian who is not a parent, one or both parents may be obligated to pay child support, even in cases that aren’t contested.

How Connecticut Handles Child Support

Like most states, Connecticut uses a formula to determine child support payments, which takes into consideration both parents’ financial situation as well as the needs of the child. The factors include:

• Each parent’s income from all sources except some child support for other children or public assistance such as welfare, SSI, disability, or Social Security retirement payments
• The number of children each parent has, with each other or from other relationships
• How much time each parent spends caring for the child
• Child care costs
• Medical, dental, and life insurance premium costs
• Any special medical or educational needs
• Other child support or alimony payments
• Any mandatory work expenses like union dues, tools, or uniforms

In Connecticut, parents use an online payment system called the State Disbursement Unit (SDU). This system gives parents the benefit of not having to interact with each other over child support and also provides evidence of conflicts or disputes.

Changes to Child Support

In most cases, parents in Connecticut have to financially support their children until they are legal adults or graduate high school, which means child support agreements may need to change over the years due to significant income changes, long-term or permanent disability, the birth or death of a child, or other circumstances.

Child support orders in Fairfield are legally binding agreements and payments legally must be overseen by the court. As such, when a modification of a child support order is needed, it is not enough for parents to agree on new terms. Parents have to petition the court, and a family court judge must approve or decide the modification and issue a modification to the existing order.

Penalties for Non-Payment

If a parent fails to maintain child support payments as determined by the court, it can result in contempt of the child support order. Owing back child support can have serious consequences. The court has the authority to garnish a parent’s wages, take income tax refunds, freeze their bank account, suspend their driver’s license, and seize property or place liens against it. Non-payment can even lead to jail time.

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The Difference Our Legal Team Can Make

The trusted and compassionate legal team at Reich & Truax, PLLC can advocate for your child and assist you through the complicated legal process of determining child support and instituting an agreement to make sure everything is handled properly. Whether you are receiving child support or paying it, contact our office right away to schedule a consultation and discuss your case.