Child support is meant to ensure that both parents are contributing financially to raising their children. Connecticut courts typically follow guidelines when determining child support amounts. A child support lawyer in Simsbury can help you understand what these guidelines mean for you.
At Rich Rochlin Family Law, we represent parents who are establishing child support, modifying an existing order, or dealing with unpaid support. With over 37 years of combined experience, our child custody lawyer in Simsbury can explain what you may be entitled to receive or required to pay, and advocate for you throughout the process.
What Counts as Income for Child Support?
Your regular paycheck may be the most obvious source of income, but it isn’t necessarily the only income that needs to be considered. This can become an issue when one parent earns money from several sources. Income considered under the guidelines may include things such as:
- Salary and wages
- Commissions
- Bonuses
- Self-employment income
- Certain benefits
- Other qualifying sources of income
Self-employment can make the process a little more involved. The amount a business brings in is not necessarily the same as the owner’s personal income, and business expenses may need to be reviewed. If you are unsure of what constitutes income, a family lawyer in Simsbury can help.
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Connecticut Has Guidelines for Calculating Child Support
Connecticut courts use the state’s Child Support and Arrearage Guidelines when calculating child support, CT Child Support Guidelines. The guidelines consider both parents’ income and provide a method for determining the amount available for their children’s support.
That said, not every family with the same income will end up with the exact same child support order. Other expenses and circumstances can come into play, such as health insurance premiums, other medical costs, childcare expenses, and other necessities for your child.
Having the numbers calculated correctly matters. Your Rich Rochlin Family Law attorney can review the financial information being used and help ensure the calculation accurately reflects your circumstances, including what non-custodial parents are responsible for.
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A Parent’s Actual Earnings May Not Tell the Whole Story
Child support disputes can become more complicated when a parent is voluntarily earning less than they reasonably could. This often happens when a parent leaves a higher-paying job, reduces their hours, or makes another employment change that affects their income to reduce child support.
A lower paycheck does not always mean the child support calculation will simply use that lower number. Connecticut courts can consider earning capacity in certain circumstances. Your attorney can help you understand how this may affect your case.
This is a very fact-specific issue. There is a difference between someone intentionally reducing their income and someone who loses a job or earns less for a legitimate reason. If earning capacity is an issue in your case, your attorney can help present the financial and employment information the court needs to consider.
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Child Support Can Be Changed After an Order Is Entered
A child support order can remain in place for years, and a family’s financial circumstances may look very different by then. If there has been a significant change, either parent may have reason to ask the court to modify the order. Common reasons for seeking a modification may include:
- A significant increase or decrease in income
- Losing a job
- A change in the child’s needs
- Changes to health insurance costs
- A new child care arrangement
- A significant change in the parenting arrangement such as heavily reduced residential time
Connecticut law allows child support to be modified under certain circumstances. What you should not do is decide on your own that the old amount no longer applies. Until the order is legally changed, you are still responsible for following it.
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Don’t Wait Too Long to Address a Change in Income
If you can no longer afford your child support payment, dealing with the issue sooner can make a difference. Losing a job or having your hours cut does not automatically lower the amount in the existing order.
This can lead to a difficult situation. You may be earning substantially less while support continues to become due at the previous amount. If your income has changed, contact your child support attorney in Simsbury as soon as possible.
Connecticut places limits on retroactive modifications of child support. If your financial circumstances have changed enough that you believe the order should be modified, speak with a Simsbury child support lawyer about what needs to be filed and when.
Keep Track of What Has Been Paid
Child support disputes are much easier to sort through when there is a clear payment history. Keep records even when you and the other parent currently get along. Save documentation showing payments made or received. You may also want to keep records of:
- Child care payments
- Health insurance costs
- Unreimbursed medical bills
- Court orders
- Income information
- Any changes made to the support order
Cash payments can be particularly difficult to prove later. If there is already a disagreement about what has or has not been paid, bring whatever documentation you have to your attorney.
Child Support and Parenting Time Are Separate Issues
When one parent stops paying support, the other parent may feel that they should not have to continue following the parenting schedule. Likewise, a parent may become frustrated about paying support when they are having trouble seeing their child.
If support isn’t being paid, the proper response is to seek enforcement of the support order. Address problems with a parenting plan through the appropriate family court process. Using one issue to respond to the other can make an already difficult family law case more complicated.
Not paying court-ordered child support is against the law and comes with legal repercussions. Rather than withholding your child from seeing their other parent and risking breaking your current custody arrangement, it is best to report the situation to your Simsbury child support attorney so they can help.
A Simsbury Child Support Lawyer Can Help You Understand What Is Fair
Whether you expect to pay child support or receive it, you should know how the amount was calculated and what expenses are included. An incorrect calculation can affect your finances for years. At Rich Rochlin Family Law, we are here to support you and your family, ensuring your child is taken care of. Contact us today to see how we can help.
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