Children Need Support
C.S. Lewis once said, “Children are not a distraction from more important work. They are the most important work.” There is nothing more important to you than your children. You only want what’s best for them. You make sure they’re fed, clothed, and safe. You want to protect them from the dangers and darkness of the world.
Whether you had this child on accident or on purpose, you chose to raise it. In doing so, you became obligated to care for this child. Perhaps they were raised by both parents in the beginning, but the relationship fell apart. Or maybe they never knew their father. Either way, both parents are required to contribute to supporting the child. For help understanding child support, contact the child support attorneys at Wirth Law Office – Nowata.
When you are a single parent who can’t solely provide for your child, you rely on child support payments to help give them the support they deserve. When you’re working part-time to support your kids that you only see on the weekends, you may be struggling to keep up with payments.
There are many cases when child support is necessary. If you have a child with a person you’re not married to, and you decided not to raise the child together, the parent without primary custody must pay child support. If you’ve been through a divorce and you have primary custody of your child, you are entitled to child support.
The goal of child support is to ensure that both parents are contributing to their child’s life and wellbeing even though they aren’t raising them together. The Nowata family lawyers at Wirth Law Office are familiar with child support in Oklahoma. They can explain how it works, answer your questions, and help when payments are overdue.
Calculating Child Support
Child support is calculated mainly based on the parents’ income. The first step in the calculation is combining the adjusted gross income of the parents. The next step is to take into consideration other children who are already being supported, how much time each parent spends with their child, other support payments, and the cost of daycare and insurance.
The non-custodial parent is the one who doesn’t have primary custody of their child. They must pay child support to the parent who does. Whether you are the giver or receiver of these payments, Wirth Law Office’s Nowata child support attorneys can simplify the process.
Collecting Overdue Child Support
If the parent who owes child support does not pay on time, that makes them delinquent. These overdue payments may be collected by the Department of Human Services or the local District Attorney through an income assignment. This is when they take the money from the parent’s wages. However, an easier way to make sure you get paid is to enlist the help of a Nowata child support attorney from Wirth Law Office.
Support payments that remain overdue collect high interest and become part of a judgment. Refusal to pay could lead to up to six months in jail and $500 in fines. That parent also risks losing their driver’s license and getting other licenses suspended or denied.
While not paying child support may save you a buck in the short term, it could seriously cost you in the end. Dealing with delinquencies is much worse than paying child support. To avoid fines, jail time, and having payments taken directly out of your wages, make your payments on time.
If you haven’t been getting the child support money that you’re entitled to, you don’t have to put up with it any longer. Do what’s best for both you and your child. Hire a Nowata child support attorney to collect those payments for you. Spend less time worrying about money and more time with your child.
If you’re struggling to afford child support payments, you can file for a child support modification. Whether you feel that you’re being charged too much or that you can no longer pay that much, a modification is your best bet.
Modifying Child Support
Oklahoma law allows for modifications to be made to your child support under certain circumstances. These include:
- Significant changes in the circumstances of the child or parent(s)
- A 20% change in the amount of child support payments that were calculated
- A policy that lacks an order for medical support
- An original calculation that doesn’t adhere to Oklahoma Child Support Guidelines
Things that qualify as significant changes in circumstances are a medical disability, changes in custody, changes in the cost of caring for the child, an increase in the child’s needs, and a decrease in the parents’ income. You should file for a child support modification if you believe you aren’t receiving sufficient child support or if you believe you’re being required to pay too much.
Nothing is more important than your child’s future. At Wirth Law Office, we believe that your child deserves every opportunity to have a good life. We want to help you provide for your child the best you can.
Whether you think you’re not receiving enough child support or you think you’re being charged too much, the Nowata child support attorneys at Wirth Law Office can work with you to do what’s best for your child.
Free Consultation with a Nowata Child Support Attorney
If you’re waiting on unpaid child support, struggling to pay, or needing to make modifications, Wirth Law Office’s Nowata child support attorneys will fight for you and your child. To ensure that your child is receiving the support they deserve, you need an attorney who will protect their interests. For a free consultation, call (918) 932-2872 or fill out the form at the top of this page.