According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, over four million parents receive child support in the United States. Many of these parents struggle to understand how child support works, and they may approach this legal subject with all kinds of concerns. During a consultation with an experienced child support lawyer in New Hampshire, parents may be able to ask various questions about child support – potentially helping them approach this subject with greater confidence. However, the outcome of each child support case depends on varying factors – including income, standards of living, and the best interests of the child. To discuss these specific family-based issues, consider calling Friedman & Bresaw, PLLC at (603) 707-4800 today.
What Happens if I Stop Paying Child Support?
A parent who stops paying child support without permission faces various potential consequences. The first step is for the obligee (the parent who receives child support) to contact the obligor (the parent who pays child support). Parents should attempt to resolve this issue without going to court if possible. Next, the obligee can ask the family court to become involved. When a parent stops paying child support without a valid reason, this is an offense called “contempt of court.”
The court may begin garnishing the paychecks of the obligor to ensure child support payments. If this does not work, the court may intercept their tax returns. Other potential steps include the revocation of various licenses. These may include a license to operate a motor vehicle, a license to practice law, a license to practice medicine, and so on. The New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services also states that they may place a lien on the home of a delinquent parent. If all of these attempts to ensure child support payments fail, the court may incarcerate the delinquent parent. However, this is always a last resort – as an incarcerated parent will obviously struggle to make any further child support payments.
How Do I Know My Ex Is Spending Child Support on the Kids?
Obligors often become concerned about whether their child support funds are actually supporting their children. Some worry that their exes are spending these funds on personal or frivolous expenses rather than the necessities of the children. While this is a valid concern, an obligor generally does not have the right to oversee these expenditures. In the eyes of the family court, an obligee should have the right to spend these funds on a mixture of expenses that may or may not be directly related to the children. They may also combine child support funds with their own income, perhaps occasionally spending the resulting cash on personal expenses.
The only exception to this rule involves blatant child neglect. For example, an obligor may spend years paying relatively high child support before discovering their child is struggling with malnutrition. The child might also wear tattered or unsuitable clothing. Perhaps the parent does not have a stable place to live, despite receiving more than enough to cover rental costs. In this situation, it may become clear that the obligee is wasting child support funds. The family court may subsequently modify child custody and remove the child from the neglectful environment.
When Does Child Support End in New Hampshire?
Child support ends when the child reaches the age of 18 or graduates from high school (whichever comes last). When the child reaches legal adulthood, they become responsible for their own financial security. In some cases, child support may extend past the age of 18. For example, a child may need to repeat a grade due to educational challenges – causing them to graduate at age 19. In this situation, child support would likely continue until the graduation date. Parents may also create their own private agreements to continue child support past graduation, and this arrangement often ensures the mutual coverage of college tuition.
A few other situations could cause child support to end earlier or later than usual. If a child joins the military at age 17, they become legally “emancipated.” This could cause child support to end one year early, although both parents typically have to provide permission before their 17-year-old can join the military. In contrast, child support may continue long after the age of 18 if the child is mentally or physically disabled. To learn more about these situations, consider speaking with Friedman & Bresaw, PLLC.
How Much Will I Need to Pay in Child Support?
Child support amounts depend on various factors. The most important factors are the income disparity between the parents and the nature of the custody arrangement. If one parent rakes in much more than their ex, this high earner would likely need to pay child support. If parents earn approximately the same amount, child support obligations may be minimal or non-existent. These payments also depend on whether one parent has primary physical custody, or whether both parents spend approximately the same amount of time with the child. If a child lives primarily with one parent who earns less than the other, child support is highly likely. In contrast, a parent who earns more and gains primary physical custody may not receive any child support.
Parents may also need to consider the standard of living enjoyed by the child during the marriage or relationship. The lifestyle of a child may be particularly important in high-net-worth families, with courts considering various circumstances that would be irrelevant in lower-income families. Examples might include expensive hobbies/sports, access to high-quality healthcare, private school tuition, luxurious vacations, and more. Parents emerging from high-net-worth marriages can expect to pay (or receive) more child support than others.
Ask Friedman & Bresaw, PLLC More Questions About Child Support
While parents tend to ask many of the same questions about child support, an online article cannot tailor its answers based on the unique needs of each family. In contrast, a meeting with an experienced family law attorney in New Hampshire may allow parents to discuss their specific concerns and priorities in more detail. Child support outcomes depend on income disparities, standards of living, healthcare needs, educational challenges, and much more. Parents may be able to ask specific questions about child support during a consultation with Friedman & Bresaw. Consider calling (603) 707-4800 today to continue this conversation.
