Child Support

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Child Support

The right to parent your child comes with the responsibility to provide for that child’s needs. Just as your parental rights survive a divorce or separation, so too does the duty to support your child. Even though child support is a well-recognized obligation and is calculated according to formulas, there are still numerous legal issues that can arise, including:

  • A parent not paying child support as the law requires
  • The improper calculation of the child support obligation
  • Modifying the child support obligation based on a change in circumstances
  • Extending a child support obligation past the child’s 18th birthday

Whether you are the parent paying child support or you receive child support from the other parent, turn to the Cullman County child support legal team of Hankey Law Firm for all your legal needs.

Our attorney Shelbie Hankey has practiced family law in Cullman County and surrounding counties for years, devoting her practice to delivering exceptional, personalized service and advocacy to her clients. Speak with attorney Shelbie Hankey and the Hankey Law Firm today.

How Alabama Courts Calculate Child Support

When the parents of a child separate or divorce, the court will order one parent to pay child support to the other. The parent with whom the child primarily resides will receive child support from the non-custodial parent.

In nearly every child support case, the court calculates the amount of child support due according to a fixed formula. This formula considers the combined income of both parents to arrive at a total support amount. The formula then considers the percentage each parent contributes to that combined income figure. The parent with the obligation to pay will pay the same portion of the total child support obligation as they contribute to the combined total income.

Modification of Child Support Orders

When you or the other parent experience a material change in your circumstances, you may apply to the court for a modification. Examples of changes in circumstances that could impact a child support obligation include:

  • Loss of job, reduction in hours, or promotion
  • Relocation for work or personal reasons
  • Illness or disability, whether temporary or permanent
  • New child support orders that the paying parent owes

Not only must there be a change in circumstances that justify a modification, but the change must also be substantial. Alabama law presumes that a ten percent or greater difference in the child support obligation is substantial.

Why You Should Hire a Cullman County Child Support Lawyer

Calculating the appropriate amount of child support may seem straightforward, but it is a fact-driven task. Without a skilled Alabama child support lawyer assisting you along the way, you risk over- or underpaying child support.

Call the office of the Hankey Law Firm for help with all your child support-related questions and concerns. Upon retaining our firm, we will get to work by understanding your situation and determining the most effective and efficient way to address your issues.