Albemarle Child Support Lawyer

Albemarle Child Support Attorney

Providing for our children is an essential responsibility of parents and society as a whole. When parents do not live together, a child support arrangement ensures that the needs of the child are met and that the financial impact of doing so does not fall entirely on one parent. If you need help with a child support matter, reach out to an experienced Albemarle child support lawyer.

About Lehnhardt Price Family Law

At Lehnhardt Price Family Law, we care deeply about the families we serve. Our practice is limited to family law, so we can provide you with the knowledge, effort, and attention your case deserves. We bring decades of combined experience and genuine care for our community.

What Is Child Support?

Child support is financial assistance that one parent pays to the other for the expenses associated with raising a child or children that the parents share. This assistance is intended to go toward things like food, clothing, school expenses, and other similar costs. Child support payments are usually set up to recur monthly.

Arranging Child Support in North Carolina

In North Carolina, it costs over $21,000 per year on average to raise a child. To make sure that child-related costs are divided equitably, North Carolina parents have a few options for creating a child support arrangement:

• If the parents can reach an agreement on an appropriate amount of child support, it can be written into the terms of a separation agreement or consent order.
• Parents can enter into a voluntary support agreement, or VSA, which can be signed by a judge to make it a legally binding court order. This also only works if you can reach an agreed-upon figure. North Carolina has a Child Support Enforcement Agency. You can go through this government organization to claim child support.
• A parent can also seek child support by filing a complaint in court. In Albemarle, you can begin this process at the child support office in the Stanly County Department of Social Service, or by filing an action in family court.

How Is Child Support Calculated in North Carolina?

Courts calculate child support based on guidance in N.C. Gen. Stat. 50-13.4 of the North Carolina General Statutes. While child support payments vary based on the circumstances of both parents, courts consider the following factors:

• The gross income of each parent
• The expenses of each parent for work-related childcare and/or health insurance
• Other child support responsibilities or other children for each parent
• Extraordinary expenses, such as private school tuition
• The number of overnights with each parent

The court’s considerations are not limited to these factors, and any other pertinent information in a child support case should also be disclosed to the court. Because people come from a wide range of circumstances, child support payments vary significantly. However, the average annual amount a parent receives in child support in North Carolina is around $9,000. Your skilled family attorney in Albemarle can help you understand how much you should receive and help you pursue that outcome.

North Carolina Child Support Enforcement

Unfortunately, parents do not always comply with child support orders. In North Carolina, the Child Support Enforcement Agency helps parents receive the support they need. If a parent does not pay child support, the agency can pursue the following legal actions, among others:

• Wage garnishment. A portion of the parents’ income can be garnished by the state to pay child support.
• Property seizure. Physical assets can be seized and sold to cover unpaid support payments.
• Withholding tax refunds. The state can intercept the parent’s tax refund and use it to pay delinquent child support.
• Credit reporting. North Carolina allows unpaid child support to show up on your credit report, which can have a significant negative effect. Just like any other late payment, a missed child support payment stays on your report for seven years.
• License suspension. Failing to pay child support in North Carolina can also result in a suspended driver’s license.
• Arrest. A parent who continually avoids paying child support can be arrested and subject to fines and possibly a jail sentence.

If your case is not handled thorough the Child Support Enforcement Agency, and experienced attorney can help you pursue contempt in order to collect the past due child support.

Why You Should Hire a Child Support Lawyer

North Carolina takes child support and child support enforcement very seriously, so it is important that you know your rights and responsibilities as a parent. Whether you and the other parent are approaching an arrangement together, in agreement, or facing a court case, you need to hire a child support lawyer to help you navigate the system.

Your Albemarle child support attorney will assess your situation and help you understand what constitutes a fair arrangement, and help you pursue the support you need. In the event of a court hearing, your attorney can represent you and present facts to the judge with clarity and accuracy.

FAQs About Albemarle, NC Child Support Law

What Should You Avoid Saying in Court in a Child Support Case?

There are some things to avoid saying in court in a child support case. Do not discuss negative feelings about the other parent. Focus on the well-being of the child. It is also important to remember that child support and child custody are separate issues. A child support hearing is not the time to bring up grievances about your custody arrangement.

Do I Have to Win Primary Custody to Receive Child Support?

No, you do not have to win primary custody to receive child support. Child support can still apply in joint custody arrangements or split custody arrangements in which parents have multiple children. To qualify for child support, the child must be living with you at least part of the time.

What if the Child’s Paternity Is in Question?

If the child’s paternity is in question, North Carolina’s Child Support Enforcement agency requires a paternity test before pursuing a father for child support. If someone is approaching you for child support without going through the agency, you can request a paternity test when you respond to the claim. Whether the test is granted is up to the judge in your case.

Contact Lehnhardt Price Family Law

Navigating child support arrangements can feel overwhelming and stressful. Laws are complicated, and court processes can be frustrating. The compassionate and effective attorneys at Lehnhardt Price Family Law know how impactful these matters are and are ready to help you achieve stability and security for your family. Contact us today for a consultation to discuss the details of your case.