- Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Here in North Carolina, the state legislature sets guidelines for child support based on the parents’ gross income, number of children, and other expenses such as insurance and childcare. The goal of these guidelines is for the parents to share the weight of their children’s financial needs. These guidelines are just the default rules, and in many cases, a different set of rules may be applied.
Generally, a child support obligation will be calculated from the date an action for support is filed, but a parent may also make a claim for child support that they believe is owed from before they requested it. This includes child support that would have been paid for up to the three years before the filing of a request for child support. This claim is known as an action for retroactive child support.
Here at Greenwood Law, we understand that child support can be an emotional topic for many of our clients. That’s why we work tirelessly to ensure that your financial situation is completely expressed when it matters most. Lack of employment is not often a justification for a child support obligation of $0/month. In most cases, the Court will consider if the parent each parent has the ability to work, and will impute income to a parent who is not working, but is not under any disability that prevents him or her from working. Having the right attorney to adequately address your situation to the Court regarding your employment and your children’s needs is essential, and Greenwood Law is here to help. We understand that your financial situation is not always completely within your control, and we can help you convey that to the court to properly calculate child support.
The state of North Carolina has created specific guidelines that explain what counts as income when it comes to child custody. Making this determination can become more complex when either party has several sources of income, receives support from family or friends, receives social security income, works some overtime, receives military benefits, or is self-employed. At Greenwood Law, our experienced attorneys have been navigating these difficult issues for years. Let us help you carry the burden of tackling the difficult issue of child support.
If both parents combined income goes over the maximum amount covered under the child support guidelines, special rules apply that may make the amount of support ordered dependent on your children’s specific needs, rather than presumptive guidelines created by the legislature.
While the guidelines are applicable in many situations, an attorney can still help you by making sure that your income, expenses you pay for your children, and prior payments are properly applied towards any calculation of the child support you pay or receive. If you feel you are entitled to an increase or decrease of the child support ordered in your case, give us a call today. At Greenwood Law, we can help determine your best path forward, whether your child support is just beginning, needs changing, or may be ending.
The court no longer has jurisdiction to order child support for a child when he or she graduates from high school, cease making progress towards a diploma, or reaches the age of 20, whichever is first.
The North Carolina guidelines for child support direct courts to look at the following in making their determination:
No matter the issue, Greenwood Law is here to handle all of your child support issues, so give us a call today, and don’t let your needs be pushed aside. To discuss your options further with the attorneys at Greenwood Law, contact our Winston-Salem office today by calling 336-661-8788, or filling out our online contact form.
