Child Support
CHATSWOOD CHILD SUPPORT LAWYER
Aggressive Pursuit of Fair Outcomes During and After Divorce by a Child Support Family Lawyer
Parents are obligated to support their children until they reach the age of 18, although it’s possible for a court to order support for a child obtaining higher education. It can be a long time from the date of your divorce until these obligations end, and during those years, your children’s needs and your financial situation are likely to change. For capable and concerned legal counsel regarding child custody matters from divorce to post-judgment variation and enforcement actions, you can rely on Chatswood Family Lawyers.
WHAT IS COVERED BY AUSTRALIAN CHILD SUPPORT LAW?
Australian law recognises a child’s right to receive financial support from both parents. Most often, the non-custodial parent will be required to pay a portion of their income to the custodial parent to help cover the child’s expenses because it is assumed that the custodial parent is already contributing to the child financially. The goal of child support is to give the child(ren) the same quality of life they would have enjoyed if the parents had remained married.
Child support in Australia is calculated by Services Australia (through the child support agency) using a precise formula detailed by law, but courts still have the discretion to require the non-custodial parent to pay amounts in excess of this to support the child’s current lifestyle or needs, including:
- Tuition for private schooling
- Health costs, medical expenses and living expenses
- Sports travel teams, summer programs, and other enriching activities
Child support orders can also vary depending on the needs of the individual child or children involved. For example, if a couple has a special needs child, then the non-custodial parent may be required to pay more to help cover the child’s medical expenses.
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CHATSWOOD FAMILY LAWYERS HELPS WITH VARIATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF CHILD SUPPORT ORDERS
To ensure that children receive the support they are entitled to Service Australia have established a detailed system for collecting and recording child support payments, and enforcement capabilities for when a parent refuses to pay despite having the means to do so. Service Australia may be able to garnish wages or tax refunds. It’s never a good idea to fall behind on child support payments, yet many parents do become delinquent, often for the following reasons:
Retaliation
Many parents have the mistaken notion that child support payments are linked to their parenting rights, so when custodial parents interfere with the noncustodial parent’s time with the children, the paying parent may withhold payment. This type of self-help makes the paying parent look bad to the court and gives a custodial parent further ammunition to make the paying parent’s life miserable. A better option for a paying parent in this situation is to contact a skilled family lawyer who can explain your options and possibly even request a variation of your support payments through Services Australia or the Court.
Financial hardship
If a paying parent experiences a major financial burden, such as the loss of a job or a major medical treatment, they may fall behind on their child support payments. In cases like these, an experienced family lawyer can assist you in requesting that the court re-evaluate your obligation.
CONTACT OUR CHATSWOOD CHILD SUPPORT DISPUTES LAWYER TODAY
You deserve fair treatment, regardless of whether you are the one paying or receiving child support. Chatswood Family Lawyers has extensive experience negotiating complex child support issues throughout the North Shore, Greater Sydney and its environs. Call us today at (02) 9412 4500, by email at enquiries@chatswoodfamilylawyers.com.au or fill out our form online to schedule a consultation.