For people who have primary custody of minor children, they are usually able to collect payments from the other parent to help support their children. By law in North Dakota, both parents have a duty to support their children, but it is usually the non-custodial parent who ends up paying support. If you feel that you are paying too much in child support, then a child support lawyer in Grand Forks, ND may be able to help you get your payment amounts reduced to a reasonable level.
Child Support Obligations
Even though both parents are obligated to pay for the support of their children according to their ability, there are times that the non-custodial parent may be able to have his or her payments reduced. Child support payments are calculated based on a formula using the non-custodial parent’s net income. Along with support payments, the non-custodial parent is also obligated to help with the costs of his or her children’s education and to pay for their health insurance, if he or she can.
Reasons for Support Reductions
In some cases, a child support lawyer may be able to help a parent get his or her support payments reduced. Some of the reasons for reductions include the custodial parent having a net income of $12,500 or more per month, the enrollment of children in private school, the costs of travel for the non-custodial parent, or the health concerns of the non-custodial parent.
Even if the non-custodial parent is unemployed, he or she is obligated to pay some sort of child support if he or she receives some sort of unemployment or retirement benefits.
As long as their children are 19 years of age or younger, both parents are obligated to support them. However, if you feel you are paying too much for support, schedule a consultation with a child support lawyer to see if you can get the amount reduced.
