Child Support
Court ordered payments, made usually by the non-custodial parent to the custodial parent to support the child.
What is child support?
Age of child where custodial preference is considered. Preference is noted, but does not dictate custody.
What is any age of the child?
Child custody is awarded to both parents.
What is joint custody/shared parenting?
Person to whom child support belongs
Who is the child? (Parents cannot agree to waive child support)
NOTE: if one parent is not allowing timesharing, the other parent must continue paying child support, and if one parent is not paying child support, the other parent must continue allowing timesharing. The failure of one parent to do something does not justify the other parent failing to do something.
A local group of lawyers that use a sliding scale to charge for services based on income. Often they will work on a case for free, or pro bono.
Who is Mid Penn Legal?
Since support is based off your income or capacity to earn income, most minors and high school students don’t have to pay.
Are all minors required to pay child support?
Where both parents must consult with each other to make decisions regarding the child's welfare.
What is shared parental responsibility?
Type of custody granted to a prarent that allows set parent to make important, long-term decisions for the child.
What is legal custody?
One of the two types of expenses taken into consideration when calculating child support
What are daycare or health insurance?
The age at which a child can refuse to see a parent or comply with court order.
What is 18 years old?
Standard to determine whether a modification of child support is warranted
What is a substantial change in circumstances
A person appointed by the court to serve as evaluator and investigator (not as an advocate) to make recommendations to the court as to what is in the best interest of the child.
What is guardian ad litem?
The care and control of a child awarded by the court.
What is custody?
Where you find the statutory minimum, or the equation used to calculate the amount of child support that the Court may award
What is the child support guidelines?
The minor's parents are not responsible for paying child support for a grandchild.
Are the minor's parents responsible for paying child support?
-Tracking down people who have defaulted on their support orders and agreements. - Deducting certain federal money payable to debtors. -Garnishing wages. - Refusing to issue important documents, such as passports.
Name the 3 ways the government can assist in the enforcement of support payments.
Childs's best interests, relationships, domestic violence and abuse, what the child wants, other relevant factors. (Mental and physical health, distance between homes)
What are factors considered by the court in determining the best interests of the child?
The principal upon which a judge makes a decision regarding custody of access to children.
What is the best interests of the child?
Where one parent is not working and has no income, the court can do this if it finds the person could be working
What is impute income?
Child Support and Child Custody are NOT connected. If a parent does not pay support, they are still legally allowed to retain the current custody rights.
Can I deny visitation if I do not receive Child Support payments?
Name 3 exceptions that may change the amount ordered for child support.
How to modify custody agreement due to changes in circumstances that is no longer in the best interest of the child.
What is complaint or petition for modification?
A temporary court order for custody of a child.
What is interim custody order?
How often support guidelines are reviewed.
What is every four years?
Domestic relations office may schedule genetic tests for the man, the child, and the child's mother.
What if the baby's father denies parentage?