Highlands Ranch Child Support Attorneys
The financial aspects of raising children can be tricky even in the best of times, including for intact households. If you are going through a divorce and custody battle, the monetary strain can get exponentially worse, as the combined resource once available may now be split between two homes. Colorado statute recognizes that it takes more than love to raise a child. As such, there are comprehensive laws in place designed to ensure that children in a divorce or custody situation are provided for financially. Let the Highlands Ranch child support attorneys at Plog & Stein, P.C. put their years of litigation experience to work for you in your child support case. Our team handles all aspects of child support including initial determinations, modifications, collection of past-due support, enforcement of orders, and dealing with child support enforcement agencies. We can also assist with additional child expenses issues, such as medical costs, activity costs, daycare costs, and tax issues tied to child support.
Responsibilities and Child Support Rights in Highlands Ranch
In the state of Colorado, a statutory formula is used to calculate monthly child support and in most courts, the duty to pay support is viewed as mandatory. The duty to pay support usually continues until a child is 19 years of age and maybe longer in some cases. When the issue of child support becomes contested, the issue isn’t necessarily whether there is a duty to pay, but rather what goes into the formula and how that affects the bottom line amount of the monthly payment. So what goes into this significant equation?
The establishment of child support and modifications of child support are covered under Colorado statutes C.R.S. 14-10-115 and C.R.S. 14-10-122, respectively. While the formula created by these statutes is mathematically straight-forward, a great many financial factors are taken into consideration and can quickly make things complicated. The primary factor is the income of each party, which may not always be straightforward and can become complex in cases of self-employment, underemployment, or when people have multiple income sources, such as business or investment income. Other factors going into the calculation include health insurance and daycare costs for the children, the number of children, and the amount of overnight time each parent spends with the child. Beyond these primary factors, there are additional intricacies that can affect this calculation. Having a Highlands Ranch child support lawyer abreast of the various factors can make the difference in terms of making sure you are treated fairly, whether receiving or paying child support.
The statute also recognizes additional needs that may arise for any child, such as activity costs, uninsured medical expenses, school fees, and educational costs. These items are generally split between the parties in proportion to their incomes and having specific, clear orders in place regarding these additional items matters for both parties. With all the nuances that come with child support cases, our Highlands Ranch child support attorney recognize that detail matters.
Once orders are obtained, enforcement issues can also arise, which may necessitate wage garnishment or asset seizure to recoup support arrears. Regardless of which side of the child support equation you are on, the Highlands Ranch child support lawyers at Plog & stein are ready to help. We bring years of representing Highlands Ranch clients in Douglas and other counties. We are there for our clients when it comes time to deal with all child support issues, whether negotiating settlement or proceeding to trial.
Child Support Lawyers Serving Highlands Ranch Clients
Many of our Highlands Ranch clients come to us with questions about custody and child support during their divorce. We understand how quickly these family law matters can get complicated and frustrating for all parties, especially when children are involved. Our Highlands Ranch child support lawyers strive to guide you through this process with dignity and integrity and will work to get you a fair resolution as quickly as possible. Timing is important in a child support case. Don’t wait to seek advice from a Highlands Ranch child support lawyer. Child support payments can be awarded retroactively from the date of filing or service, so please don’t hesitate. Call us to talk about your case today at 303-781-0322 or contact us online to set up an appointment.
Our legal team handles other types of family law cases as well, including:
