Get The Most Out Of The Complex Issue Of Child Support
Once the divorce or separation becomes official, both parents are faced with a complex matter of determining child support. This refers to the amount of money that has to be paid, the non-custodial parent obligated to pay it, the manner of paying, schedule and many other aspects. When the situation is typical, and all rules can be applied to the book, there are specific formulas for determining the total amount of child support and all other features. However, there are too many non-typical situations when the court has to apply a specific modification of family law discussing this topic to achieve the best circumstances for children involved. These non-typical situations include a lot more potential problem than the most common issue with non-residential parent refusing to pay support or not paying it regularly.
Most family law courts and judges apply one of two major approaches when determining the total value of child support that should be paid. One approach imposes precisely determined percentage of the net income of the non-custodial parent that is owed to residential parent. This percentage varies among states, but it is usually 20% per child. It, of course, can be changed and adjusted according to the total parental income or specific costs the child might have.
Another approach Is more flexible and relies on the final decision made by family law judge, after considering a wide range of specific aspects and factors influencing child’s situation, needs, and regular costs. This approach doesn’t start with the basic amount of support, but determines the amount for each case specifically, considering the best interest of the child. The most frequent example refers to children with special medical or educational needs and costs that will raise the overall amount of alimony.
There are, also, many specific aspects of jobs, earnings, and incomes of a non-custodial parent that complicate child support procedure additionally. It includes the cases when another parent is self-employed, paid in cash or by the commission or quite a common problem with people whose incomes fluctuate.
All of this feature that makes child support such a complex matter is just one of the reasons why you should hire professional and experienced family law attorney to assist you. I have a thousand cases complete behind me were single mothers won all their rights regarding child support with my legal assistance, even direct presence in the courtroom if required.
Unless the family law court orders otherwise, neither parent has right to restrict the other one from seeing the kid. This is something a single mom should keep in mind, no matter how battered you are or angry at your ex. It’s extremely hard sometimes, but you have to put yourself in the position of your child and think solely about that. On the other hand, fathers might try to withhold the child longer than the court has allowed them, due to their feeling of unfair division of visitation time or any other similar feeling. These are just some of the potential emotional and legal issues that commonly emerge when it comes to settling 
When trying to determine the best visitation schedule, family law court will consider the best interest of the child, and many more aspects are striving to ensure that both parents are involved in kid’s life and particularly big decisions. This goal remains the same, whether divorce is settled at joint or sole custody. However, over two decades of my career as a family law counselor and attorney, I’ve seen too many attempts of abusing of determined visitation schedule from one parent or the other and I still strongly suggest involving a professional to ensure just and the least painful organization.
General advice to fathers is focused on organizing their time with kids in a different manner. Make it more creative, dynamic, fulfilled with games and toys and various activities interesting and attractive to children. This is the only way to get their attention and make them truly want to visit you, instead of simply following the orders. On the other hand, mothers should be proactive. Talk to the child and explain the importance of visitations. Insist on them. This is not only good for your child but will teach him to respect the other parent and enable him to overcome the mere divorce in the least troubling manner.
Instead of instant granting custody to the mother, family courts nowadays consider preferences of the children, mental, physical and financial aspects of each parent, relations between each parent and the kid, home environment and community aspects, such as school, hospital as well as the distance between them and residences of the parents. According to that, most family courts prefer the option of joint custody, but sole custody is also an option.
Joint custody is an excellent option for those parents who get along enough to take care of the kids together. This means that both parents will discuss crucial questions regarding child’s education, health care, joining sports and other activities, opting for schools and all other important aspects of the child’s life. One parent is considered to be residential (custodial), and the other one is non-custodial, but the time spent with a child is split almost equally, and the decisions are made together. If parents have a troubling relationship and cannot work together, not even when it comes to essential aspects of the child’s life, the court will assign a kid to the residential parent, which is usually the mother, but not necessarily and this parent will be in charge of these crucial decisions. The other parent gets a schedule of visitations and the granted right to be a part of kid’s life.