ARIZONA FAMILY LEGAL SERVICES
CHILD SUPPORT
Child Support in Arizona
How is Child Support Determined in Arizona?
One of the most hotly contested issues in a divorce case is child support. Arizona divorce lawyers spend hours going back and forth with your spouse’s attorney trying to reach an agreement on support. Because it is is largely based on your custody agreement, some parents are tempted to push for extra time, so their child support is lower. That could be a big mistake. You need to think about what’s best for your children – not your pocket. Of course, your Arizona divorce lawyer won’t cave in and let you be taken advantage of. However, they understand that the judge expects both parties to keep the best interests of the children in mind. They’ll work hard to come to an arrangement that makes everyone happy.
Arizona Uses Child Support Guidelines to Determine Your Payments
Arizona, like many other states, uses certain formulas and forms to determine your child support. These guidelines consider the following things:
- How many days a month each parent has the children
- The income of each parent
- Number of children
- Ages of children
- Which parent will be paying for the children’s health insurance
For the most part, the custodial parent will be the one to receive child support. If you have the kids most of the time, you’ll be entitled to monthly sustenance. If you work full-time and your spouse doesn’t have a job, it makes more sense for them to keep the children most nights. This will have a significant impact on your child support calculations.
Child Support is Dictated by Income
The biggest determinant of child support is your income. If you’re not the custodial parent, you’ll be the one paying for it. The more money you make, the more you’ll have to pay in support. This is because child support is based on your paying a certain percentage of your gross income in support. You’re allowed to make certain deductions, such as childcare and other expenses. Conversely, the less money the custodial parent makes, the more they’ll receive in child support. So, if you make $100,000 and your spouse only makes $30,000, you can expect to pay a hefty sum in child support. This is especially true if you have several children together.
Call an Arizona Divorce Lawyer Right Away
If you’re thinking about filing for divorce, it’s only natura to have questions. What you should do is reach out to an Arizona divorce lawyer before you make any final decisions. If you have children, then you’re going to have to resolve two major issues. First, you and your spouse will have to agree on a custody arrangement. If you can’t do this, then the judge will force you to go to mediation so you can settle it there.
In Arizona, child maintenance or support is determined by formulas set out in the child support guidelines. Even though the courts follow these guidelines, parents tend to argue over this bitterly. Your Arizona divorce lawyer will have to spend hours trying to negotiate a fair child support agreement with your spouse’s attorney. If this isn’t possible, then both parties will be at the judge’s mercy.
Rather than wait until you’re in over your head, call and talk to an Arizona divorce lawyer right away. If they’re there from the start, you’ll have a much better chance of a smooth divorce. Call today and schedule your initial consultation. There’s too much at stake to try to handle this on your own.
Related Articles
Get Your Free Consultation
Services
Recent Posts
