Bethesda Child Support Attorney
Child support is one of the most important things to discuss during a divorce. A Bethesda child support attorney can help fight for your child’s rights when you are going through a divorce or separation.
Bethesda is home to at least 65,000 people as of 2022. Out of the entire population, at least 9,700 people living in the census-designated place are divorced.
At Divorce With a Plan, we provide legal advice and representation for individuals going through a divorce and other familial issues, such as child support.
But before we discuss how we might be able to help, let’s first begin with the basics.
Understanding a Child Support Order
A child support order is an official directive from a court mandating a noncustodial parent to pay a certain amount of money, usually per month, toward the financial support of a child.
What Will the Courts Take into Consideration?
Before ordering a parent to pay child support, the court will consider several factors. The parent’s financial status is usually the biggest factor the court considers. This is because the larger percentage of the support comes in the form of money aimed at facilitating a child’s upbringing.
Other than the parent’s income, most courts consider the following additional factors when deciding on child support:
- Whether either parent is already receiving child support or alimony from a previous marriage
- Whether either of the parents is already paying child support or spousal support from a previous marriage
- Which parent is paying for health insurance, daycare, among other expenses relating to the child in question
- Whether the parent in question is also paying child support for other children from other relationships
- The age of the child(ren)
- Whether either parent lives with a new partner and if so, who pays household expenses in the new relationship
How Does Visitation Work in Bethesda?
In Bethesda, there are no standard visitation laws. Instead, the court considers the unique circumstances of each case when deciding visitation.
Above all, the judge considers the ‘child’s best interests’ when determining visitation rights. For example, in cases where the noncustodial parent is considered unfit to be left unsupervised with the child, the court might order supervised visits.
Similarly, if visiting the parent would endanger the child, the court might require that the visitation be conducted at a court-designated facility for the sake of the child’s safety.
The court also reserves the right to restrict or limit visitation. Again, this mostly depends on the noncustodial parent’s conduct. For instance, suppose the parent has a history of abuse or domestic violence. In that case, the court might limit visitation until the parent meets certain conditions, such as attending and passing a rehabilitative program.
How Do I Know That What I’m Paying in Child Support is Fair?
If you are the parent paying child support, it is understandable that you might be concerned about the amount you are paying. Child support is usually one of the most contentious issues during divorce. For this reason, there will always be questions and concerns about whether a particular amount is fair or not.
While there are many online tools you can use to estimate the amount of money you should expect to pay as child support, these tools are not accurate. One of the best ways to determine how much you should pay as child support is by contacting an experienced Bethesda child support attorney.
The attorney will review the unique circumstances of your case, including your income, to help you understand what you may be required to pay. Secondly, since attorneys know the elements judges look at when determining child support, they can refer to these factors to come up with a better estimate of the amount you should pay as child support.
How a Bethesda Child Support Attorney From Divorce With a Plan Can Help You
Other than the reason for divorce, issues such as child support often spark fierce disagreements between parents. For example, the parent paying support might feel that they are paying too much or the amount they are paying does not seem to serve the intended purpose. On the other hand, the recipient might feel that the amount is not enough.
Whatever the circumstances, a seasoned child support attorney can help you understand your rights as a parent when it comes to child support. The attorney will review your case and provide the best possible legal advice regarding child support payments.
Most importantly, the child’s best interests will always precede anything else regarding issues such as child support or custody. At Divorce With a Plan, our attorneys can help fight for your child’s best interests.
Our founder Josephia Rouse, Esq., is a Best Interests Attorney. This term describes an attorney who fights for children in these situations, both in and out of court.
As a parent, it is understandable to be concerned about your child’s future. You want the best for them even as your marriage falls apart.
When dealing with familial issues as complex as child support, you need help from people who understand how the law works. You need help from people with your child’s best interests at heart. And that’s not all – you need help from people who have a plan for you and your child. A plan that will stay relevant in the long run.
If that is what you are looking for, you are just one phone call away from transforming your wishes into reality.
Contact Divorce With a Plan
Ready to discuss your child support case with our legal representative? We are open Monday through Friday 9 AM to 5 PM. Contact us here or send us an email at info@josephialaw.com to schedule a consultation. We might be able to fight for your child’s best interests, giving you the peace of mind you need and deserve as a parent going through a divorce or separation.