Penglase & Benson Named a 2020 Law Firm 500 Honoree
Penglase & Benson has been recognized as one of the Fastest Growing Law Firms in the U.S.
Marriages may end, but being a parent is a lifetime job. After a divorce, you may be required to pay child support, or you might find that you depend on it to manage your household budget.
While each state has its own guidelines, the amount of child support you pay or receive is calculated using several factors, including:
If you’re someone who makes their child support payments on time, congratulations. You’re in the 50 percent of the divorced population that does so, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
For families in the other 50 percent, not paying child support is no small matter. Not only are there serious legal repercussions for people who don’t pay, missing payments can deprive the children of divorced parents of necessities.
So, in today’s blog post, we’re going to look at the issue from both perspectives, and talk about budgeting for child support payments whether you’re giving or receiving them.
Make an estimate of what it costs each month to raise your children: food, housing, clothing, medical expenses, activities. Your ideal monthly budget should be based solely on your income. Any child support you receive is an extra, which you can use for future expenses.
The law can’t tell you how to spend child support, but it’s still a smart idea to spend sensibly, especially if you have a former spouse who makes late or inconsistent child support payments.
While your ex can’t tell you how to spend child support, he or she could make you defend in court purchases you made for yourself using child support money.
Has your ex-wife or ex-husband gotten a raise? Have your hours been cut at work? Has your daughter’s school raised tuition? When changes like this occur, it could be time to formally ask the court for a child support modification.
Unless the court has ruled that your child support payments should be garnished from your salary, you’ll need to establish a system that ensures the payments go through each month. You can do this through your bank, or by working with your local child support office.
You may not be able to make your payment in full every time, but it’s a good practice to pay at least something each month. This will help you avoid some of the more drastic consequences of missing child support payment, which can include liens against your property, a suspended license – driver’s and professional — and even criminal prosecution.
This rule applies to people on both ends of the child support transaction. If you find yourself unable to pay at the same level you once did, it’s time to make a request for a modification.
If you need help arguing for a modification, the attorneys of Penglase & Benson are ready to navigate your child support and custody needs.
With more than 65 years of combined legal expertise, our team is prepared to guide you through these proceedings with compassion and insight, always keeping the best interests of you and your children in mind. Contact us today to schedule an initial consultation.
Penglase & Benson has been recognized as one of the Fastest Growing Law Firms in the U.S.
Families with Children Subject to Custody Orders Take Heed - On April 8, 2020, President Judge Wallace H. Bateman, Jr., of the Court of Common Pleas of Bucks County issued Emergency Order No. 2020-11,
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our lives seemingly overnight. We should not expect it stop short of effecting child custody disputes and possibly send them into a tailspin.
But how is alimony determined? There’s no simple formula. Courts in Pennsylvania will typically have an ex-spouse pay three types of support during a divorce.
Divorce can be a frightening experience, partly because there is so much uncertainty involved.
You’ve probably heard the term “amicable divorce” more than a few times throughout your life. “Amicable” is a word that often appears in news stories when celebrity couples decide to break up. But th
In a perfect world, child custody negotiations would run smoothly every time. There’d be no need for us to write this blog post, let alone focus on this practice area. But we live in an imperfect wor
When Jim and Alice met during their first year in college they never would have thought the words “contested divorce” were anywhere in their future. They began dating at the end of sophomore year, go
You’ve just gotten married. Your new spouse has kids from a previous marriage, but at this point, you think of them as your kids too. Unfortunately, the law has other ideas, at least when it comes to
Whenever we talk about divorce on this blog, we try to acknowledge that it’s rarely an easy thing. But while going through a divorce isn’t pleasant, the process should at least be fair. Fair for you.
© Penglase & Benson, Inc.
