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What Does Child Support Really Cost?
Child support guidelines may not take into account added expenses that every parent faces when raising a child.
May 06, 2011 /Parenting PR News/ -- What Does Child Support Really Cost?
Divorcing couples face many tough decisions. They must determine where they will live after the divorce, how they will be able to afford two separate homes and who will get particular items of marital property. When the divorcing parties are parents, though, all these questions must be answered with the children's best interests at the forefront.
Once child custody has been established, the next topic of debate for divorcing parents is child support. Child support calculations -- even those that do not dramatically deviate from the guidelines set forth in North Carolina law -- can be tedious and contested. The statutory guidelines provide the starting point for calculations, but any parent knows that the costs of raising a child are not limited to providing food, clothes, health insurance and childcare, though.
Parents realize, as do family law attorneys and judges, that special physical, emotional, educational or mental needs translate into additional costs in the form of therapists, counselors, tutors and health care providers. As children age, the costs of extracurricular activities like competitive sports, dance, band, orchestra or theater can also put a huge dent in the household's budget.
North Carolina's child support laws do list a wide range of factors that can be considered when determining the amount of a child support award, including:
-Income of the parties, including regular wages, bonuses, royalties, interest payments, Social Security Disability or workers' compensation benefits, rental income and more
-Net worth of both parties
-Amount of visitation/parenting time the noncustodial parent has with the child(ren) in need of support
-Costs of providing daycare and health care coverage for the children
-Age and health of parents
-Age and health of children in need of support
Even with a law that attempts to be effective and widely applicable to the majority of North Carolinians involved in child support disputes, there is always room for improvement. If you or a loved one is seeking child support payments or is contesting an unfairly calculated order, seek the advice of a skilled family law attorney in your area to learn more about the process.
Article provided by Breeden Law Office
Visit us at www.breedenlaw.com
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