How To Overcome Obstacles And Get The Child Support You Deserve
Couples generally work together to make sure their children have what they need, but this can create problems in the event of divorced or unmarried parents. Our Fort Lauderdale family lawyer explains common obstacles you are likely to face in ensuring your children are provided for and how to get the total amount you deserve.
Four Common Issues In Fort Lauderdale Child Support Cases
Under the Florida Statutes, parents are legally required to provide financially for their children. When a couple gets divorced or in dealing with unmarried parents, the law dictates the amount of support that must be paid. Factors that influence this amount include each parent’s income and assets, the amount of time the child spends in their home, and the child’s overall needs.
As an experienced Fort Lauderdale child support lawyer, our office helps parents get the total support they are entitled to and need in providing for their children. In handling these cases, four common obstacles often arise:
- The other parent does not pay enough.
One of the most common problems is when one parent refuses to pay a reasonable amount of child support. While you may be reluctant to take them to court, it is typically the only way to ensure you get the total amount owed. The court will determine what is reasonable, based on state guidelines and the specific circumstances in your case.
- They have fallen behind on payments.
Getting a child support order through the court also helps in making sure any past due or currently outstanding amounts are paid. Suppose your spouse falls behind or otherwise fails to comply with your child support order. In that case, they can face enforcement efforts through the Florida Department of Revenue, which includes wage garnishment, asset seizure, property liens, and suspension of their driver’s license.
- They quit their job to avoid paying.
In an effort to spite the other parent and avoid paying child support, the other party may quit their job. Be assured that they can still be required to make payments. The court will impute an amount based on their skill level and prior wages. If they fail to pay this, they could be subject to seizure of any tax returns or government benefits they receive.
- The amount ordered is not enough.
If you have a child support order but the amount the other parent is required to pay is not enough, you may be able to request modifications. You need to prove a substantial change in circumstances, such as if they got a major raise or you lost your job.
Contact Our Fort Lauderdale Divorce Lawyer
At the law office of Vanessa L. Prieto, we provide the trusted guidance and professional legal representation you need to get the total amount of child support you are entitled to. To request a consultation with our Fort Lauderdale child support lawyer, give us a call or contact us online today.
Sources:
leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0000-0099/0061/Sections/0061.30.html
floridarevenue.com/childsupport/parent_services/Pages/default.aspx
