During a divorce, spouses should make sure the financial needs of their children are met. They must consider several factors as they prepare a child custody agreement apart from calculating child support. If you are in this situation, an experienced Ridgeland family law attorney can help you establish the appropriate amount of child support you can demand while adhering to state guidelines. Your lawyer knows the terms that your child custody arrangements must include.
Child Support Assessment
In Mississippi, the gross income of the non-custodial parent is used. This income includes salary, wages, interest, retirement benefits, alimony, dividends, unemployment benefits, and workers’ compensation. Generally, if a couple has one child, the non-custodial parent pays 14% of this income as child support. A parent must continue to pay child support until the child reaches the age of 18 or graduates high school.
The Necessary Costs to Consider
When you discuss child support arrangements with your ex, you must consider all the necessary costs that could arise while you raise your child. Thus, your discussion should include how expenses like health insurance, education, and uninsured medical care must be handled. Also, such an agreement must include how the daily expenses associated with the care of your child must be managed.
It is important to address these costs when drafting your child support arrangement. Otherwise, you could face challenges when an expense will arise that the agreement does not include. While you can request a modification to child support, a later modification can be difficult because of some issues. Thus, you need a skilled lawyer to guide you through the process and help you prepare a detailed child support agreement.
Child Support Modification
You and your ex can agree to modify the amount of child support you may be getting for your child. You need to have this agreement in writing and authorized or notarized by a court clerk. Then, you need to file it with the court and have it approved by a judge. To get court approval, the new agreement must be in the best interest of your child.
Child Support Order Enforcement
Enforcing a child support order will guarantee the custodial parent regular and timely payments for child support. Child support payment can be given in cash or by check or bank transfer, or through some payment applications. If the non-custodial aren’t fails to pay child support, the custodial parent can call the Department of Human Services in Mississippi. The department can deduct the payment from the paycheck of the non-custodial parent or take the case to a court for enforcement.
