Usually, after going through a divorce or separation, every parent commonly shares this dilemma. With divorce rates skyrocketing today, sharing the everyday care of their children has become one of the widespread issues. However, even today, many separated parents are unaware of the ways child support work with joint custody.
Child custody lawyers in houston will help you be able to help you know more about your child's custody.
Child support, along with child support, can be a complicated subject to many of you. It can be called a maze of complications related to negotiations and fair deals. This maze is familiar for parents to gain unbiased custody agreement. We will talk about it in detail and let the parents know more about this.
Do You Pay Child Support with Joint Custody?
Today legal obligations are even more complicated compared to the past decade. Hence child support payments can be confusing to most parents. The law determines how the payment arrangement should be for joint custody. However, do not worry as there are different types of professionals and experts to help you through these. Now let's address the question most of you have.
Yes, you do have to pay for child support when in joint custody. Traditionally parenting contracts or arrangements are not composed of child support payments. However, numerous factors may have a probable effect on child support.
If you are a parent and hold the sole custody of your child, your ex-spouse is accountable for payment obligations, and it is mandatory. The child support payments provided by your spouse will help you. The help includes providing your child with the basic needs of life, such as food, shelter, clothes, etc.
In a case of shared custody, both you and your ex-spouse will be required to pay for child care. The payments have to be made independently. The independent factor might confuse you whether it applies to you if your state laws do not. However, you should know it is not true.
Although there are state laws that allow judges ruling over terms to differ from state laws, it is also very much possible to apply so for joint custody as well. But this is not 100% guaranteed. Even if any of you can deviate from basic
child support laws, it would still require one parent to be accountable.
Factors affect the Child Support Amount in Joint Custody
Here are some factors that can affect the child support payment amount in joint custody. However, these can be valuable for you if you are going through financial issues.
It will help you identify how much you need to pay if you are maintaining joint custody. In addition to that, it will give you an idea of do you pay child support with joint custody.
Differences between Income Shares and Percentage of Income models
The primary aim of child support laws is direct. It is to ensure that children whose parents do not live together are not deprived of ordinary life. One out of two ways is used by most state child support laws.
The ways are useful for determining the obligations to be fulfilled for child support. It is essential to know and comprehend the model followed in your state. It is because the calculations of the child support obligations are dependent on it.
Model of Income Shares
The income shares model works quite simply. It uses a combination of the parent's income and the number of offsprings to deduce the child support obligations. Then comes to play the role of the court. The court utilizes the parent's corresponding contributions along with the monthly income as a means to divide the obligation amongst them.
Percentage of Income Model
This model uses a percentage rate imposed on the parent's monthly salaries. The percentage may vary according to the number of children. Some states have the same flat rate for people of several income levels. However, many other states have to change percentage rates depending on the income level.
Time donated to Parenting
Several states require child support laws to take into consideration the time donated to parenting to calculate payments. For instance, parents who may not share the same parenting time may see witness decrease in payments. Many courts nowadays have online websites where parenting time is calculated based on overnight stays with their children.
Earnings of Parents
The essential factor to note here is whether you and your spouse have equal or unequal incomes. In case you have more or less similar earning, no child support obligations may need to be paid to each other.
Further, if both the parents agree to no payment, the court may agree as well. The court will make a decision based on supporting the child's best interest. However, if there are differences, the amount of obligation will be affected.
Finishing Words: Do You Pay Child Support with Joint Custody
Being a parent is challenging, but what makes it more challenging is having to take care of them alone. Divorced parents would still want the best for their children. Hence child support payments are an essential factor in joint custody.
Child support laws can seem tricky to you at first. It is because of several factors that affect the child support payment amount. However, do not worry, even if you are new to this.
You can receive absolute help for expert lawyers who can make this process easy for you. Read this article well to know how child support works with joint custody.