For many parents, one critical aspect of providing for their children in a divorce is receiving child support. That said, child support can also become a rather contentious issue, so it is important to have knowledgeable Pennsylvania child support lawyers who can help ensure the best interests of your child are protected. Berman Voss is available to provide the proper guidance.
If you are facing a child support issue of any kind, you will need an experienced attorney. By turning to the Pennsylvania family lawyers at Berman Voss, you can have peace of mind, knowing that you are retaining a dedicated legal advocate to fight for the best interests of your family.
In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, child support is ordered to help cover a broad range of child-related expenses, including the following:
Typically, child support in Pennsylvania is ordered either until a child reaches the age of 18 or graduates high school. However, it may be extended past the age of 18 if the child has a disability or certain special needs.
In most cases, child support is based on the “income shares” model. Essentially, the model used to calculate support is based on each parent’s monthly net income, and in most cases, the non-custodial parent is the one tasked with paying child support to the custodial parent. That said, child support is not exactly a fixed calculation; courts can consider additional factors that it deems relevant. Some of the factors that courts may consider when determining a child support agreement in Pennsylvania are as follows:
Ultimately, the goal of any court is to ensure a child’s best interests are met, so if they need to deviate from the guidelines, they may do so on a case-by-case basis.
If your child’s needs change later, or your ability to pay support is affected in some way, it may be possible to modify the initial support order with the assistance of a seasoned child support lawyer.
If your ex-spouse is currently violating a legally binding child support order, either by failing to make the correct payments or refusing to pay child support altogether, you have rights, and Berman Voss can assist you in exercising those rights. To start, Berman Voss can file a court action to enforce the order. Thereafter, the firm can represent you at your enforcement hearing before a judge to prove that enforcement is necessary. Once this is proven, the court should provide provisions regarding compliance. If the parent violates these provisions, he or she may face a wide range of consequences, including:
If you need a seasoned legal advocate to represent you with any child support matter, speak with the attorneys at Berman Voss.