what can a lawyer do for me if i owe a large amount of child support

by Ashton Gutkowski 5 min read

In some cases, you can work with your divorce attorney to negotiate down the amount you owe. Right Lawyers is our go-to divorce attorneys. They can talk with Child Support Services to try and work out a reduced amount.

You may be wondering, "can a lawyer help me decrease my child support payments?" A family law attorney can help parents with child support issues, including establishing, enforcing, and changing child support payments.

Full Answer

Why do I need a lawyer for child support?

Having a lawyer on your side will help you provide accurate information so you can ensure the child support order is the right amount needed to properly care for your child. A lawyer may also help with your child custody case: Issues of child custody, in many cases, come hand-in-hand with child support cases.

What to do if you owe back child support?

Contact a lawyer in your area who specializes in family law to discuss avenues to pursue. OCSE lists states with debt compromise policies for back child support. Options include: Re-Determining Back Child Support. Check for errors in the amount you owe.

Who pays child support in the case of divorce?

Often, in the case of divorce, one parent pays child support to the other parent, in order to help with the costs of raising a child. The United States, along with many other countries, insists that children have a right to receive financial support from their parents.

How can a child support attorney help a non custodial parent?

A child support attorney can help a non-custodial parent determine whether the child support figure is too high. If it is, the attorney will build and present a case to lower this ongoing financial obligation on a temporary or permanent basis as warranted by filing their petition to modify child support.

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How much do you have to be behind in child support to go to jail in SC?

Under South Carolina law, if a family receives public benefits, it takes only five days of a non-custodial parent, usually a father, falling behind on a payment to trigger a civil contempt hearing that could mean ending up in jail for up to a year.

How much back child support is a felony in New York?

Failure to comply with paying child support is a form of child neglect and in extreme cases over $10,000, should be guilty of a class E felony punishable in accordance with the penal code.

How much back child support is a felony in Ohio?

$5,000Ohio law provides criminal penalties for parents who fail to pay support for more than 26 out of 104 weeks, or who owe "arrearages" (overdue child support payments) in excess of $5,000. Special prosecutors handle these matters, and extensive non-payment of support is considered a felony.

How can I avoid paying child support in Texas?

Typically, to stop child support payments, a petition to terminate child support withholding must be filed in the same court that established your original child support payments.

How do I get my child support arrears dismissed?

How to Get Child Support Arrears DismissedFile a Motion to Establish Your Child Support. ... Negotiate Your Child Support. ... Demonstrate the Child Lived With You – Show You Have Custody of The Child. ... File a Motion to Set Aside the Court Order That Establishes Your Child Support.More items...

What happens if you can't pay child support?

Your pay can be garnished. A court can order your earnings to be withheld by your employer and used as payment for your child support debt. The garnishment will either be the entire court-ordered amount or up to 65% of what is determined to be your disposable income amount (whichever is less).

Can child support arrears be forgiven in Ohio?

of State-Owed Arrears Ohio now has a “waiver and compromise” program. This means that local child support enforcement agencies have the authority to negotiate the compromise or forgiveness of child support arrears owed to the state if an obligor can prove financial hardship.

Can you go to jail for not paying child support?

Is Jail a Potential Penalty for Failing to Pay Child Support? In short, yes, you can go to jail for failing to pay your court-ordered child support. The good news is that you will have several chances to amend the issue and make up the payments you owe.

Who gets back child support after the child is 18 Ohio?

This means that an adult, emancipated child can seek retroactive child support until his or her 23rd birthday. If granted, the time period for retroactive child support could be from birth through age 18.

How far behind in child support before a warrant is issued in Texas?

six months behindYour ex must: Have an arrest warrant issued. Owe $5,000 or more in child support. Be at least six months behind in payments.

What is the average child support payment in Texas?

1 child = 20% of income. 2 children = 25% of income. 3 children = 30% of income. 4 children = 35% of income.

Can you go to jail for not paying child support in Texas?

If the judge finds that you purposely failed to pay child support, you could be found in contempt of court for violating a court order and sentenced to up to six months in jail. In Texas, you can also be arrested for failing to pay child support.

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