Child Support Lawyer in Columbus, OH
Parents not living together does not affect their rights and obligations regarding child care. Custody and support are crucial in a divorce case, but they are also significant when paternity is established. Matters involving minor children are more difficult now that the language has shifted to the allotment of parental rights and duties. When you combine emotion with complex legal difficulties, it’s easy to understand why hiring a child support lawyer Columbus, OH is critical.
If you need legal advice on child support, engaging a qualified legal team from Sheppard Law Offices can make all the difference in your case. Our skilled family law attorneys have handled child support issues and will work hard to safeguard your parental rights and obtain the best possible solution for your present legal circumstances.
Why Do I Need a Child Support Lawyer?
Family law can be a complicated area of law. If you are going through a divorce, child custody battle, or any other family law problem, you must choose an experienced and skilled advocate who will fight for your rights in court. A child support lawyer can assist you if you are a parent who needs assistance receiving child support payments, changing an existing child support order, or recovering unpaid back child support.
Fortunately, at Sheppard Law Offices, we have trustworthy and experienced attorneys that can assist you with a wide range of legal issues. We can help you with child support issues.
How Do I Choose a Child Support Lawyer?
The lawyer you hire for your child support case is perhaps one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your children. The child support lawyer you choose will work with you to create a parenting plan that, if respected by both parties, should allow for a healthy and beneficial relationship between the child and both parents.
The child support attorney can also assist you in seeking modifications if your circumstances change or, in the event of a divorce, go to court to enforce the parenting plan and ensure that all financial obligations are met.
There are several factors that come into play when choosing an attorney for this type of legal matter. Each client will have their own preferences, but these are some factors to consider:
Child support case experienced
When looking for the best child support lawyer to represent you, consider both knowledge and experience. Our law firm focuses on child support difficulties, which we believe will help us give you the best possible solution to your case. Schedule an appointment with our child support lawyer as soon as possible.
Knowledge of Jurisdiction Laws
Land limitations vary widely across states. In this scenario, you should consult with a child support attorney who is knowledgeable about local legislation. Hiring an attorney familiar with Ohio law and how to get the best possible outcome makes sense. Luckily, our family law professionals are here to help.
Thinks about your financial status
Hiring an attorney is generally rather expensive. When deciding on the best child support counsel for you, consider your financial status and what you can and cannot pay. Sheppard Court Offices represents clients in family law problems in Ohio, such as child custody and divorce. We understand the challenges that might arise when you need legal advice but cannot afford it. As a result, we provide affordable prices as well as a variety of payment options.
Compassion
Cases involving children and child support are frequently upsetting. A child support lawyer in Ohio who knows this situation and what is at stake for your family may be your best bet. Compassion is required for survival in these environments. You may be certain that we understand what parents and their children are going through during these challenging times because of our years of experience. We are here to help you.
Questions to Ask a Child Support Lawyer
Knowing what questions to ask an attorney about your child support case might be challenging. Here are some questions you should ask a lawyer during your initial consultation:
- What effect does a change in a parent’s salary have on child support?
- What options are there for enforcing child support?
- How difficult is it to adjust the amount of child support or get a child support modification?
- How does the status of custodial vs. noncustodial parents affect support payments?
- Will alimony affect the amount of child support I get or pay?
- How can I be sure that child support payments cover daycare (or other forms of childcare), health insurance and health care expenditures, special needs care, and all of the children’s other requirements?
Choosing the appropriate counsel may make a lot of difference when enforcing a court order, modifying the amount of child support you receive or pay, or having other child support issues.
What is Child Custody?
The legal and physical relationship between a parent and his or her child is referred to as “child custody.” The parent with custody of the child is entitled to raise, look after, and decide on the child.
The child’s biological parents should always make decisions about the child’s residency, healthcare, education, and religious upbringing. But all of these problems might become difficult if couples divorce. Child custody laws and the courts become involved when a child’s custody and parenting are in question.
Call Sheppard Law Offices today for more information on child custody
What is Child Support?
When parents do not live with their children, the kid usually lives primarily with one of them (the “custodial parent”) unless the parents have joint physical custody. Child support is the amount of money the noncustodial parent provides to the custodial parent to help satisfy the child’s basic needs. Child support is usually part of a court order, even if the judgment is based on a parental agreement.
What is the Ohio Minimum Child Support Amount?
Ohio’s minimum monthly child support payment is $80 per kid, according to Ohio Revised Code 3119.06. However, several factors influence how much child support you may be required to pay each month. Under certain situations, such as mental or physical impairment of the nonresidential parents, or other conditions deemed suitable by the court or agency, the courts or agency may order a minimum child support payment of less than $80.
How is Child Support Calculated?
Federal law requires all states to establish child support guidelines. Nonetheless, each state creates its laws. If you’re wondering how much child support you’ll be expected to pay, the answer is determined by your state’s child support guidelines and your specific circumstances.
The guidelines create a child support range for each parent since both parents are obliged to support their children. In most cases, courts have the authority to vary from the frequent child support orders if they believe it essential. Divorce laws in most states outline the permitted causes for departing from the norms.
Regardless of how much leeway judges have under the law, most states have child support guidelines that outline the factors that judges must consider when determining who pays how much child support. These requirements frequently contain the following items:
- Child’s requirements (including health insurance, education, daycare, and any special needs)
- The income and necessities of the custodial parent
- The paying parent’s capacity to pay
- Child’s standard of living before divorce or separation
Before making a child support decision, courts require each parent to fill out a form explaining their financial status, including monthly income and expenses.
Child Support Enforcement in Ohio
The state of Ohio takes child support seriously. If a parent fails to make payments for a lengthy period, they may risk criminal charges, being held in contempt, being fined, being sent to jail, or having their license suspended.
The Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) enforces child support payments in communities in Ohio, and they have the authority to petition the court to order a parent to pay their support in the following ways:
- Filing of contempt of court actions, which may end in prison time
- Withholding money from the earnings of parents
- Passport refusal
- Personal or real estate liens
- The court issued an arrest warrant
- Claim your federal or state tax refund
- Notify the credit bureau
- Claim workers’ compensation
- Suspend driving, occupational, sporting, and recreational licenses
If a parent fails to make support payments for 26 weeks in a row over two years, they can be charged with criminal non-support, resulting in up to five years in jail and significant fines. The first contempt complaint can result in 30 days in jail, although jail time is regularly avoided with a considerable support payment.
How Long Do You Have to Pay Child Support in Ohio?
Obligated child support is typically payable until the kid reaches the age of 18 or until they graduate from high school, whichever comes first. However, according to Ohio state law on child support termination, there are scenarios when mandated support continues through a child’s 18th birthday. Among these conditions are:
- The youngster has a mental or physical disability and cannot maintain themselves.
- Both parents have committed to continue assisting until the kid reaches the age of 18.
- The youngster is still enrolled in high school full-time.
Call our Child Support Lawyer Now!
Working with our knowledgeable child support lawyer to resolve family conflicts offers various advantages. For example, our firm’s experienced family law attorney adds value by guiding you through the complex process of divorce. We can handle the complexity of legal documents, child support, and alimony talks. Our Ohio family law attorney can help you with custody and visitation difficulties.
We may also be helpful at happy times. If you are considering getting married, our experienced family law attorney can advise you on how your marriage may affect your assets and finances. A prenuptial agreement can protect all parties involved in a failed marriage or help with financial planning in the event of an untimely death.
We can also assist you if you want to adopt a kid to expand your family. We are committed to defending your family’s legal issues with care and sensitivity at Sheppard Law Offices. Our law office has helped families through legally and emotionally tricky family court case hearings for years. Call us now to schedule a free In-Person Consultation!
