Adams County Child Support Attorney
What is included as “income” in your child support calculations? How does your share of the parenting time factor into your support worksheet? What happens when your children are on separate custody schedules? How do you collect from someone who lives out of state? The Adams County child support attorneys at Plog & Stein, P.C. have heard all these questions and many more. We have over 70 years of combined legal experience dealing with all matters relating to child support and modifications of child support. We work with clients all over Adams County to bring a sense of organization and strategy to child support proceedings, and we’ll work with you to create stability in an otherwise emotional and sometimes argumentative process. No matter if your case is big or small, if you live in Brighton, Thornton or Commerce City, a well-practiced member of our legal team will be able to answer your questions and get your case moving in the right direction. It not only takes love, but also financial resources, to raise a child. When dealing with child support, the only goals of the attorneys at Plog & Stein, P.C. is to make sure the monthly amount you pay or receive is accurate and fair.
What You Should Know About Child Support in Adams County
For residents all across Adams County, the courts use a mathematical formula (aided via specific software) to make child support determinations governed by guidelines set forth in Colorado Revised Statutes 14-10-115. You do not need to be a mathematician to use the spreadsheets, available on the Colorado Court website, to estimate your payment schedule and begin planning for the future. However, most questions and pitfalls arise when the parties disagree on what numbers should be used in the worksheets.
For example, did you know that bonuses do count towards your income? While professionals who make all or a significant amount of their income through commission or bonuses have fluctuations in what they bring home every year, historical data may be used to average out what income is typical and that number may be used in the child support equation. Likewise, questions may arise as to what figure should be input tied into work-related child care or the monthly health insurance premium. Every situation is different and there are rules in place to deal with the intricacies that may arise when running a guideline calculation.
Beyond the basic guideline calculation, there are other child support related subjects which can arise, such as who gets to claim the income tax dependency exemption for the child, or how children of other relationships might be factored in. Regardless of how formulaic the calculation may appear, litigation and arguments can also arise regarding these child support related issues. When parties to a child support case can’t agree, a judge will ultimately decide the issues.
Should your case go to trial, the judge will hear evidence from both parties regarding their respective financial situations and parental responsibilities. Your child support case may be stand-alone or be part of a more complicated trial involving divorce, custody, and property disputes. Working with an Adams County child support lawyer who is also well-versed in these other family law matters will be a great benefit to your case and help tremendously in protecting your overall interests and the interests of your family, both today and in the long run.
In any family, financial circumstances can change over time. Fortunately, statute recognizes this and sets forth specific procedures for modifying your Colorado child support orders. The standards for modification of child support are different from the initial establishment of support and require that the new monthly amount increase or decrease by 10%, or more, for a modification to occur. Child support obligations run until the last child turns 19 years of age, though there are various exceptions related to emancipation, disability, or finishing high school.
Lawyers Zealously Advocating for Adams County Residents
No matter what you face in the fight for your children’s needs, the team at Plog & Stein, P.C. understands the assistance you need and we are ready to help you navigate your case. Whichever side of the child support equation you are on or where you are in the process, we can provide you with the knowledge and representation that you deserve to reach a fair outcome. Call our Adams County child support attorneys today to set up an appointment to discuss the details of your case at 303-781-0322 or contact us online.
