Both parents have a financial responsibility to their children, regardless of whether they are married, divorced, or were never married. When parents live separately, child support helps divide that responsibility. A child support lawyer in Farmington can help ensure that the amount being requested or paid is based on accurate information.
At Rich Rochlin Family Law, our child custody lawyer in Farmington can help parents establish child support and address problems with existing orders. With a combined 37 years of experience, we are here to help whether you believe you are owed or are overpaying child support.
Child Support Orders Do Not Need to Be Related to a Divorce
Child support commonly comes up during divorce, but you do not need to have been married to the other parent for support to be ordered. Connecticut’s child support laws apply to parents who have a legal obligation to support their children.
For divorcing parents, support may be addressed along with custody, parenting time, property division, and other issues. Unmarried parents may have child support addressed separately.
The goal is to establish a clear order that tells both parents what their financial responsibilities are. This includes the regular support amount and other expenses that may need to be divided.
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Both Parents’ Finances Matter When Calculating Support
Determining child support considers both parents’ finances, not just the income of the parent making payments. Your family law lawyer in Farmington can help you identify the relevant financial information. Financial information that may be relevant includes:
- Wages and salary
- Bonuses and commissions
- Self-employment income
- Certain benefits such as stipends or other cash benefits
- Other qualifying income
- Deductions allowed under the guidelines
Accurate numbers are important. If income is missing or calculated incorrectly, the child support calculation may also be wrong. Before an order is entered, your Rich Rochlin Family Law attorney can review the financial information being used and raise questions when something does not add up.
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Financial Disclosures Can Become an Important Part of Your Case
You should have an accurate understanding of both parents’ finances before child support is finalized. This isn’t always as simple as looking at two paychecks side by side. Your child support attorney in Farmington can help you understand the nuance of each scenario.
While many parents have steady, predictable incomes, others are business owners, have secondary sources of income, are commission-based, or receive bonuses, causing their income to change month to month. This can complicate determining how much child support is owed.
Accurately determining what is owed involves reviewing pay information, tax records, business records, and other documentation related to income and expenses. If you believe the other parent’s reported income does not match their actual financial situation, discuss your concerns with your attorney. You may need to review additional information.
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Child Support Payments Often Do Not Cover All Necessary Expenses
Children can be expensive. There are often costs that go beyond groceries, clothing, and a place to live. Connecticut’s child support system accounts for certain additional costs that parents may need to share. These can include:
- Work-related child care
- Health insurance
- Unreimbursed medical expenses
- Dental expenses
- Other qualifying health care costs
How these expenses are handled should be clear. For example, if one parent pays a medical bill upfront, both parents should understand whether the other is responsible for reimbursing a portion. These may seem like small details while a support order is being negotiated, but over several years, they can add up to a considerable amount of money.
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Child Support Can Become More Complicated in Higher-Income Families
Higher income does not remove the need to calculate child support. It can, however, raise issues that are less common in cases involving more typical household incomes.
Connecticut’s guidelines provide direction for calculating support, but cases involving income that is above average or that does not follow a typical schedule can be more complex. This can include those who have less conventional careers, large assets, or other atypical situations.
Additionally, when larger expenses are taken into account, such as child care, health insurance, activities, and other costs, they can look very different from one household to another. A higher income alone does not determine how much one parent owes versus the other.
Child Support Does Not Necessarily End on a Child’s 18th Birthday
Many parents may assume child support always ends the day a child turns 18. However, Connecticut law is more specific. Speaking with a Farmington child support attorney can help you fully understand how different laws may or may not apply to your situation and how much child support is in Connecticut.
Under Connecticut General Statutes § 46b-84, support for a child with unmarried parents generally continues until they turn 18. However, if the child is still a full-time high school student, support may continue until the child completes twelfth grade or reaches age 19, whichever happens first.
Before stopping payments, review the actual terms of your order and determine when your obligation legally ends. Assuming you are finished paying can result in unpaid support if the obligation is still in effect, leading to serious legal consequences.
College Expenses Are Handled Separately From Regular Child Support
College can create another set of financial questions after regular child support is ending. Connecticut law allows courts, in qualifying cases, to enter educational support orders addressing certain higher education expenses.
Not every family will have an educational support order. Timing can also matter, particularly when the issue was addressed or reserved during the parents’ divorce or other family court proceeding.
If your child is approaching college age, review your existing orders before assuming what either parent will be required to contribute.
A Farmington Child Support Lawyer Can Help Protect Your Finances
At Rich Rochlin Family Law, our goal is to guide and support your family, fighting to ensure your child maintains financial security regardless of their parent’s marital status. If you believe you are owed child support or are overpaying child support, schedule a consultation with our child support lawyer in Farmington today.
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