What you should be receiving or paying in spousal support or child support is complicated and often involves a large amount of red tape. The attorneys at Buechner Haffer Meyers & Koenig Co., LPA, have decades of experience representing individuals struggling with child and spousal support matters.
Whether you are an unmarried parent, estranged spouse or are divorced, we can build a strong case to defend your interests. You can depend on our lawyers to utilize their wealth of domestic relations experience to advise you of an estimate of what you should be paying or receiving in support. We will negotiate, engage in collaborative efforts or litigate the issues if necessary to help you achieve a successful outcome.
Factors That Affect Child Support Obligations
While child support is set by a guideline worksheet, there are many credits and deductions that are factored into the child support worksheet. These can make a huge difference in what you will pay or receive in child support. Credits include day care expenses, local income tax and supporting a child not subject to the current child support order. Missing these credits and deductions or using inaccurate income figures can result in a large overpayment or underpayment of child support.
In addition, unlike a Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) administrative action, the court can deviate upward or downward for a number of reasons such as the percentage of time the children spend with each parent, income from a new spouse or any other factor the court finds relevant in determining an equitable child support.
When arguing for a deviation in child support, it is highly recommended that a parent has a competent, experienced attorney who can cite the relevant statutory factors and present evidence in a clear and concise manner to increase your odds of paying a more equitable amount of child support. The attorneys at Buechner Haffer Meyers & Koenig Co., LPA, are experienced in this process.
As a consequence of the economic downturn, many parents have lost their jobs. It is the burden of the obligor, or parent paying support, to notify the Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) or the court of a change in circumstances that affects the amount that one should be paying, or if he or she should be paying child support at all. The threshold for arguing a change of circumstances is 10 percent, but there are exceptions.
Our attorneys will sit down with you and do an analysis of what you should be paying or receiving from the other parent, and file the appropriate pleadings in court if a modification is necessary. We also review CSEA administrative findings to make certain that child support was calculated correctly, as errors do occur.
Considerations To Keep In Mind During Spousal Support Negotiations
Currently, the duration and amount of spousal support (also called alimony or maintenance) in Ohio are not set according to a worksheet. Therefore, the court relies on a number of factors, including the disparity of income between husband and wife, the length of the marriage and future earning capacity of both parties to determine payments.
We Leverage Our Experience In Negotiations And Litigation. Contact Our Firm Today.
Negotiating support terms without a qualified lawyer can put your financial future at risk. Before you sign an agreement, speak to a family law attorney at our Cincinnati firm. Call 513-579-1500 or email us to arrange your appointment.
Our lawyers are licensed to practice in Florida, Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio.
