Many parents rely on child support payments to meet their children’s needs. Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions about child support in Frederick.
Our child support attorneys can work through those misconceptions with you so you better understand your rights and obligations concerning child support. We will also help you protect your rights as you move forward with your life.
When most people think about child support, they incorrectly assume it will automatically cover every expense for a child. However, the state Courts use child support calculators that set basic support guidelines. These guidelines generally cover a child’s basic needs, such as housing, clothing, and food, so the child can maintain essentially the same standard of living they would have had if their parents lived together. Courts also consider day care expenses, health insurance, and extraordinary medical expenses in basic child support orders.
Raising a child usually creates financial obligations beyond these basic needs. For instance, you might need to pay for your child to join a travel or club sports team. You might also want your child to attend a private school and need financial help from your coparent to cover tuition. Our seasoned attorneys in Frederick can address this child support misconception and help you pursue an order or modification that accounts for your child’s additional expenses.
Although your child support payments can stop when your child turns 18, the obligation will continue until graduation if your child remains in high school. However, if your child turns 19 while still in high school, your legal obligation to pay child support will likely end.
If your child has a mental or physical disability and cannot support themselves, your child support obligation can continue indefinitely.
The law does not automatically require parents to pay a child’s college tuition. However, if parents agree to cover those costs in a marital settlement agreement or Court order, the Court can enforce that obligation.
Even when your child support obligation technically ends, you need to file a motion with the Court to terminate it because the Child Support Administration generally will not stop collecting payments on its own. Our seasoned attorneys can address this misconception about child support in Frederick and file the appropriate paperwork to terminate your obligation.
A common misconception about child support in Frederick is that a parent may withhold visitation or custody exchanges when the other parent falls behind on payments. However, child support and child custody are separate legal issues. If your child’s coparent is not meeting their child support obligations, you need to address the matter through the Court.
You cannot punish them by withholding visitation or custody. If you interfere with their custodial rights, you can face legal penalties. If your child’s coparent is behind on child support, our skilled attorneys can use the appropriate legal channels to help you pursue the support they owe.
Understanding your legal rights and obligations is critical in a child support dispute. Misconceptions about child support in Frederick can make it harder to evaluate your situation and decide how to proceed.
Contact us at Rolle & DeLorenzo to discuss your circumstances. We will explain the laws that apply to you and work with you to identify practical solutions to your child support concerns.
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