Divorce is a sticky and hard process to move through. The process becomes infinitely more difficult if you have children. It is important as a parent to do all that you can do to support your child’s mental and emotional health during a divorce. But after a divorce, child support becomes a whole different animal. Continue reading to learn more about child support and how you can help your child through this difficult time.
What Is Child Support?
Firstly, it is important to define what child support is. Child support (sometimes referred to as alimony) is a payment that is made from one parent to another after a divorce has happened, leaving one or both parents in a different financial situation. These payments are made for the benefit of the child. Child support payments are made every month to help pay for the expenses that come with having a child. The court typically decides the amount that is required for alimony and will determine the cost based on the parents’ incomes and the amount of time that a child spends at each parent’s house.
What Does Child Support Cover?
Child support is paid as a means to pay for all the things that are necessary to keep a child healthy and happy. These payments should supplement basic needs and other living expenses. Some of the things that payments should cover include food, clothing, living arrangements, medical expenses, transportation, day care, and school expenses.
Which Parent Is Supposed To Pay?
In the United States, it is not specifically the mother or the father who is assigned to pay child support. The parent who does not primarily live with the child is called the non-custodial parent. The non-custodial parent is typically the one that is court order to make child support parents, in order to help pay for the living expenses of the child. In cases where the parents have joint custody, one custodial parent may be required to pay a child support payment to the other parent.
Do I Have To Pay Child Support Before A Court Order?
One question that we at Kaufman, Nichols, & Kaufman often get is if you get separated with your spouse and decide to get a divorce is whether the non-custodial parent will have to pay alimony before a court order has been established. Technically, you are not required to pay alimony payments until you are court ordered to. However, parents are always able to make arrangements between one another to support a child.
What If One Spouse Declines To Pay Child Support?
If you are a custodial parent that is supposed to be receiving child support, but your ex-spouse refuses to pay, you should get in touch with an attorney immediately. In Utah, failure to pay child support could result in the delinquent parent being found in contempt of court. The court will then send summons to the parent and they will either be required to pay further fines or will serve jail time.
Contact Us For Legal Assistance
If you have further questions, we at Kaufman, Nichols, & Kaufman would be more than happy to answer them. If you feel that you are having to make unjust payments or if your former spouse is not making payments, it is important to get in contact with a qualified lawyer to help you with your case. We have several experienced and knowledgeable attorneys who can advise you on your situation and potentially represent you in court if things escalate. For more information, or to get in contact with one of our attorneys, reach to us out today.