Whether you’re going through a divorce or separation or have had a child with someone who isn’t your partner, child support cases can be a nightmare. Rarely are both parents able to reach an agreement on child support that they both think is fair and supportive of both parents’ financial needs. At the LLF Law Firm, our Family Law Team has guided countless Cameron County parents through the child support process. Our Family Law Team attorneys can support you in negotiations and legal proceedings to resolve your child support case as quickly and fairly as possible. We work to protect your rights and get you the best outcome possible. Get started with the LLF Law Firm today by calling us at 888-535-3686 or contacting us online.
What Is Child Support, and How Is It Calculated in Cameron County?
Before you can embark on establishing child support, you need to understand the ins and outs of child support in Pennsylvania and Cameron County. There are a lot of preconceived notions, and you may have heard horror stories from other divorced or non-married parents who have already been through the process. Let’s briefly describe what child support is in Cameron County, what it includes, how it’s calculated, and what to expect.
What is Child Support, and What Does it Include in Cameron County?
Child support is legally mandated monthly financial payments to one parent from another to cover the costs of raising a child. The parent receiving child support is the non-custodial parent, meaning the child lives all or most of the time with that parent.
While the bulk of child support tends to maintain the child’s current quality of life, it can also include other expenses. The expenses you can expect to be factored into child support payments can include:
· Childcare costs
· Health insurance premiums
· Out-of-pocket or non-reimbursed medical expenses
· Educational expenses and extracurricular activity expenses
How is Child Support Calculated in Cameron County?
The judge will rely on Pennsylvania’s child support guidelines when determining the appropriate amount of child support in Cameron County. Judges also use these guidelines when deciding spousal support and alimony pendent lite, which is discussed in greater detail in the section below.
When child support is calculated, the amount of support should result in the child receiving “the same portion of parental income that she or he would have received if the parents lived together.” The guidelines the judge uses to achieve this result have some complicated formulas and can be confusing, but here is a simplified overview of the process.
First, the Court will assess each parent’s net monthly income; this includes all income sources, such as:
· Wages, salaries, and bonuses
· Net income from business or properties
· Interest, rent, royalties, and dividends
· Pensions and retirement accounts
· Income from an estate or trust
· Social security benefits, disability benefits, workers; compensation, unemployment compensation, and other benefits
· Alimony
Next, the judge will add the income sources, and then taxes and deductions will be subtracted. Both parents’ individual net income will added together to get a number that is the household income. The judge will then look at a chart called the Basic Child Support Schedule, which shows the amount spent on children by combined income and number of children.
After that, the judge will allocate a support obligation to each parent based on their share of the combined income. The support obligation can then be adjusted based on the Cameron County child custody agreement and additional expenses. The Pennsylvania Code website includes several examples of how child support is calculated in the Commonwealth.
We understand this whole thing can be confusing, but your LLF Law Firm can explain the calculation process in more detail. Because the calculations are so complex, you cannot afford to go into the child support process without an LLF Law Firm attorney. Our Family Law Team is well-versed in these calculations and ensures you are receiving or paying the correct and fair amount. The only person you can guarantee is protecting your best interests in these proceedings is your LLF Law Firm attorney.
When Does Child Support Terminate?
Under Pennsylvania law, a parent must pay child support until the child is 18 or until they graduate high school, whichever event is later. While the 18 years of age or high school graduation timeline is the standard, some parents may voluntarily extend the deadline for child support. A common part of a divorce agreement can be extending child support through college graduation, during secondary education training, or their 21st birthday.
Child support is also frequently extended in cases where a child has special needs and cannot be self-supporting or financially independent despite turning 18. In these cases, child support can continue indefinitely. Because these cases differ from the standard child support agreement, your LLF Law Firm attorney will explain the differences and what this will look like in practice.
There are also a few situations in which child support can be terminated prior to a child turning 18 or graduating from high school. This occurs when a child becomes “self-supporting.” Self-supporting doesn’t necessarily mean the child is thriving financially or living at the same standard as before. A child is considered self-supporting when they become emancipated, get married, or join the military.
The most important thing you need to know about terminating child support in Cameron County is that child support is not automatically terminated. Even if your child turns 18, graduates from high school, or the requirements for child support under your divorce agreement are fulfilled, you must file a Petition for Modification of an Existing Support Order with the Domestic Relations Division of the Cameron County Court. Any outstanding child support payments must be made before the Court will grant the termination petition.
Until the petition is granted, the paying parent will be responsible for continuing child support payments. If you are the paying parent, your LLF Law Firm attorney will discuss the timeline of filing the petition with you.
Can I Get Spousal Support in Addition to Child Support in Cameron County?
Cameron County recognizes two types of spousal support: financial support to a lower-earning spouse. The most common type is referred to in Cameron County court as “spousal support” or “alimony.”
The less common type of support is called “alimony pendent lite.” The legal system loves using Latin terminology that no one short of former Catholic school students could understand. In plain English, alimony pendente lite translates to “alimony pending divorce,” which simply means that one spouse is paying support to another during the divorce proceeding. This type of spousal support is temporary and lasts for a short period of time.
Filing for Child Support in Cameron County
If you’re going through the child support process, this is likely a stressful and overwhelming time in your life. You may be anxious about having the funds to pay child support or are currently in desperate need of child support to ensure your child’s needs are met. Your LLF Law Firm attorney will do everything they can to make this process as simple and painless as possible. We will help you file for child support in Cameron County; the process looks like this:
Filing for child support requires working in the Cameron County Domestic Relations Section. The office is located in the Cameron County Courthouse at:
20 E. Fifth Street
Emporium, Pennsylvania 15834
They can be contacted by phone at 814-486-3349 or 814-486-3355.
You will need to submit a variety of documents to the office, including the following:
· A Complaint for Support
· Proof of income
· The child or children’s birth certificates, social security number, and custody agreements
· Documentation of child-related expenses
Your LLF Law Firm attorney will provide you with a full list of required documentation to ensure your case is processed in a timely manner and prevent any unnecessary delays.
The Domestic Relations Section will then schedule a conference or hearing where both parents will meet. Ideally, parents will come to an agreement at a conference, but if not, a hearing will be held where both parents will present their information.
You should also be aware that a few different fees are involved in Cameron County child support cases. These fees are the Judicial Computer Fee and the Annual Federal Fee. Your LLF Law Firm attorney will explain these fees, their obligation to pay them, and how to pay them.
The LLF Law Firm Family Law Team Can Help with Your Cameron County Child Support Case
When navigating the child support process in Cameron County, you need the help of the LLF Law Firm Family Law Team. Whether this is your first exposure to child support proceedings or you’re looking to modify existing orders, we will advocate for you, and the best outcome is reached for you and your child. Get started with our Family Law Team today by calling us at 888-535-3686 or contacting us online.