Tempe Child Support Lawyers

Child support isn’t for the parents; it’s for the children and ensuring their needs are met. The courts have held the opinion that the purpose of child support is to “guarantee that the children enjoy the same standard of living that they would have had the parties never separated.” At the end of the day, both mother and father need to remember that child support isn’t spousal support. If you’re unhappy with the number, have questions about existing child support, or require a modification due to unemployment, a change in income for you or the other party, etc., contact us today so our Tempe, Arizona family lawyers can help you determine your correct child support obligation or award.

What Does Child Support Cover in Arizona?

Many parents assume child support is simply a monthly payment meant to cover groceries or clothing. While those are certainly part of it, Arizona child support is broader than many people realize. The goal is to approximate what parents would have spent on their child if they were still together. Under Arizona law and the Child Support Guidelines, child support generally covers the following:

• Food and groceries. This includes everyday nutritional expenses necessary to maintain a healthy household for the child.
• Housing costs. Rent or mortgage payments, property taxes, utilities, and other basic household expenses are factored in because children need stable housing.
• Clothing and personal care items. Seasonal clothing, school clothes, shoes, and other necessities fall within support.
• Health insurance premiums. If one parent provides medical, dental, or vision insurance for the child, that cost is specifically calculated into the support worksheet.
• Uninsured medical expenses. Co-pays, deductibles, therapy, prescriptions, and other out-of-pocket health costs are typically divided between parents.
• Childcare expenses related to employment. Daycare, after-school care, and preschool programs that allow a parent to work are commonly included.
• Educational expenses. While public school is assumed, certain additional costs may be considered depending on the circumstances.
• Transportation costs associated with parenting time. In some cases, travel expenses are addressed when parents live far apart.

How is Child Support Calculated in Arizona?

Calculating child support in Arizona can be tricky. Our child support lawyers in Phoenix and Tempe recommend that everyone who has questions about child support go to the Superior Court’s website and plug in their information to see the numbers.

The Child Support Calculator

The Child Support Calculator is an interactive program that will calculate a child support amount. The purpose of this calculator is informational and educational only and does not constitute legal advice or guaranteed amounts. The amount of child support a court will order for any particular case may differ from the amount estimated by the calculator. The court has the final authority to determine the amount of child support awarded.

Which Child Support Calculator Should I Use?

The Arizona Child Support Guidelines calculate the support amount and follow the Income Shares Model. The Child Support Guidelines Project of the National Center for State Courts developed the model. Both parents’ incomes calculate the amount of child support one parent will pay the other household to financially support the children.

Influencers of Child Support in Arizona

Although the Arizona Child Support Guidelines formula for calculating payments in many cases yields a result that neither spouse reasonably can dispute, the inputs into the formula can just as easily be subject to considerable argument as in the following situations:

• Income/Employment: One or both parents are self-employed with fluctuating incomes.
• Medical Expenses: Health care or medical expenses are unpredictable.
• Child Care: Disputes as to the cost of child care, daycare, or after-school programs.
• Insurance: The Parent who insures the children or has them covered under their plan will reduce the amount they owe in child support.
• Other: The paying parent is also responsible for the care of his or her elderly parent, continuing support for children who are over the age of eighteen and are not out of high school, or are disabled and unable to care for themselves, etc.

Contact Our Phoenix Metropolitan Area Child Support Lawyers

Child support cases can feel emotionally and financially charged, particularly when both parents are simply trying to do what they believe is best. Whether you are establishing support, seeking modification due to a substantial change in income, or dealing with enforcement issues here in Tempe or anywhere in The Valley, you can depend on the knowledgeable and experienced child support lawyers at Weingart Family Law to effectively represent you. Contact our firm for an initial consultation today.