Phoenix Child Support Lawyer
INTRODUCTION:
Our Phoenix family law attorneys have a very detailed section regarding child support factors, how to modify child support, how to enforce child support and various considerations. The following is a brief summary of information that will provide you with an introduction to the more detailed information.
HOW IS CHILD SUPPORT CALCULATED IN ARIZONA?
There are a number of factors used by the court to determine what amount of child support to award in a divorce. Some of the factors the court considers include:
- If one parent has primary parenting time
- The income of each parent
- Costs associated with child care and education
- Health and dental insurance costs
- The ages of children
- Any special needs of a child
IS A CHILD SUPPORT DEVIATION APPROPRIATE?
The Court has the discretion to deviate from the guidelines and award more or less than what the child support guidelines provide. Such is based upon the child’s standard of living as though living in a hypothetical household with both parents, the child’s standard of living in each separate household, the parties’ respective incomes and other statutory factors.
WHO PROCESSES CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS?
Support payments are received, recorded and processed by the Support Payment Clearinghouse:
Division of Child Support Enforcement (DCSE)
Support Payment Clearinghouse
P.O. Box 52107
Phoenix, AZ 85072-2107
(602) 506-3762
Disbursement Correspondence Unit
PO Box 40458
Phoenix, AZ 85067
Overnight Express payments can be sent to:
Arizona State Disbursement Unit
Attention: 1st Floor DCSS Receptionist
3443 North Central Avenue, #100
Phoenix, AZ 85012
For additional information, visit the Arizona Department of Economic Security website.
Child Support Modifications
According to Phoenix child support attorneys, if your income changes or the other party’s income changes, if the child’s health care insurance changes or if other circumstances change, you will need to file a modification proceeding if you desire to modify child support. We recommend reviewing the modifications with a child support modifications attorney in Phoenix. You cannot just reduce your child support without a Court order. For example, if one of the children graduates, that does not mean that you can reduce your child support without a court order. Even if the other party agrees to a reduction, such should be confirmed in writing and stipulated to pursuant to a formal court order. Otherwise, you may have a very unpleasant shock later when the other parent asks for substantial child support arrears that you thought you did not have to pay.
Child Support Calculation
Additional Information and Resources
If you are still hungry for more information, the Arizona Supreme Court website is a tremendous resource where, in addition to the child support calculator (above), you can find the following:
Frequently Asked Questions
HOW MUCH WILL I RECEIVE IN CHILD SUPPORT?
During your initial consultation with the firm, we can provide you with an estimate regarding what we believe you are entitled to receive for child support, or what you may have to pay depending upon the circumstances.
Whether you receive child support depends in part upon who has more parenting time with the child and how much parenting time the other party has. Child support is based upon Arizona Statutes and written guidelines.
The amount depends on each parent’s gross income, childcare costs, medical and dental insurance for the children, daycare or school costs, the children’s ages, whether the children have special needs, each parties’ parenting time and other factors described in the Arizona Child Support Guidelines. The Supreme Court Child Support web page provides a child support calculator and additional general information.
How Bishop Law Can Help
At Bishop Law Offices, P.C., we help answer questions regarding child support and parenting time, or our Phoenix noncustodial parent’s attorneys can help with third-party visitation rights, in Phoenix and other valley cities. In this section you will find a number of helpful resources, with much more information and helpful resources throughout our website. If you’re not familiar with how Arizona child support laws might affect your situation, we suggest you get started by reviewing our website and the Child Support Guidelines in Arizona to get a basic understanding of the law, and learn what you can expect to encounter. If you are going through a divorce and have children, contact our Phoenix child support lawyers for help.