How Much Child Support Will I Pay?
Many of the most common concerns with divorce revolve around financial losses. Child support is something many people dread during such a time, and learning when child support is ordered and how the amount is calculated can be extremely helpful. Feel free to discuss your situation with an Oklahoma City divorce attorney if you have any questions.
How Child Support is Calculated
There are financial assets that are considered when calculating child support and there are financial assets that are left out. The financial assets that are considered include a history of the marriage, the financial history of each parent, and the current financial assets of each parent. Judges will look at marriage history factors like:
- Length of marriage
- How long the child lives with each parent
Financial history may involve looking at how the standard of living was during the marriage and past income. Current income will also be looked at along with other financial assets like:
- Business and partnership income
- Benefits from Social Security, disabilities, and unemployment
- Investments
- Royalties
- Prizes and gifts
- Bonus pay and tips
However, courts will not consider certain financial assets when calculating the amount of child support. These financial assets include:
- Your child’s financial assets
- Food stamps
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
- Any child support or payments for other children outside the divorce
Certain types of disability benefits may also be exempt from child support payment calculations. Consider contacting an Oklahoma City divorce lawyer to find out more. An experienced lawyer can help you estimate how much child support you may have to pay. With the right guidance, you might be able to lower the proposed child support payments.
When is Child Support Ordered?
Many people wonder why child support is ordered so they can anticipate whether they will have to pay child support. For any parent to request child support, they must first have a support order in the state of Oklahoma. A support order is granted by a judge for one parent to pay child support to the other parent.
In most divorce cases, a support order is part of the normal process and is conducted along with paternity orders. However, this may not always happen if you and your spouse were never legally married. For cases like this, a paternity case should be filed. Feel free to ask a lawyer for assistance if you have any questions about how this process works.
Consulting with a lawyer is highly recommended if you have any concerns about child support being ordered for your case. A lawyer can help you gauge the chances of child support being ordered and what options are available. You may not always have to pay child support depending on your financial circumstances.
Divorce Lawyer in Oklahoma City
Child support can be a stressful process for many people. Talk to an experienced Oklahoma family attorney if you have any questions about child support. You can contact the Putnam Law Office today at (405)-849-9149 for a consultation about your divorce. Mr. Putnam is a dedicated lawyer in Oklahoma City, OK who is prepared to help you defend your divorce goals.
