What a Child Support Attorney Can Do For You
Child support is the money a parent pays the other parent or legal guardian to support their children. This money is meant to pay for their children’s needs, such as childcare costs, education costs, food and clothing, health insurance and other medical costs, and housing. A child support attorney from Finbury & Sullivan, P.C. can help you to establish a child support order for your children.
Child Support Laws in Massachusetts
Children have the right to financial support from both parents. It doesn’t matter if the parents are divorced, married, separated, or were never married at all. If children live with you the majority of the time, you’re known as the custodial parent (and non-custodial parent in the opposite situation). The non-custodial parent is the one that typically pays child support to the custodial parent. The amount paid will depend on a variety of factors, including the parent’s ability to pay. At Finbury & Sullivan, P.C., we understand all child support laws in Massachusetts and can explain them to you as needed throughout the legal process.
About Child Support Orders in Haverhill
Each parent is expected to contribute a portion of their income toward child care. Massachusetts definition of income includes salaries, wages, overtime, tips, commissions, royalties, bonuses, interest, government benefits, pensions, and more. The court also considers self-employment income, although it takes great care to make sure that it reflects a parent’s regular income level.
State law requires judges to use the child support guidelines to establish a fair child support amount. As such, the court will use a worksheet, which factors in the parents’ incomes, minus any deductions, to calculate support. The court then considers how much time the child(ren) spend with each parent to set a fair amount of money that the non-custodial parent should give the custodial parent as child support.
A child support order can be established by one of our experienced child support attorneys at Finbury & Sullivan, P.C.
Enforcement of Child Support
The government and courts in Haverhill can enforce child support orders when the paying parent doesn’t meet their legal obligations. These enforcement options include putting a lien on their real estate or property, increasing the amount withheld from paychecks, seizing bank accounts, and suspending their driver’s license, to name a few.
Call to Schedule a Free Consultation with a Child Custody Attorney in Haverhill, Massachusetts Today
At Finbury & Sullivan, P.C., our team of experienced and professional child support attorneys are always ready to represent those in need of our legal experience. To schedule a free, no-obligation legal consultation with our legal team in Haverhill, call our law office at (978) 374-4736 today.