Pennsylvania Child Support and Spousal Support Lawyer
No one is more affected by the end of a relationship than children. They deserve support from both parents before, during, and most importantly, after a divorce or separation. To learn more about child support, spousal support, and how they might affect you, it is important to speak to an experienced family law attorney about your legal options.
For more than 17 years at the Philadelphia Law Offices of Richard B. Bost, I have been providing straightforward advice and aggressive representation to people throughout the Greater Philadelphia area. You can trust me to make sure your rights are fully protected as you work out your family law issues.
Do you have questions about child support or alimony? For effective solutions to your family law issues, call toll free 888-863-7021 today.
Child Support
Pennsylvania has a system for child support that was established after a study to determine how much money a non-custodial parent should contribute toward their child's needs. While there is a set of guidelines to calculate child support amounts, deviations frequently occur for a variety of reasons, including:
- Child care needs
- Private or parochial school tuition
- Medical coverage
- High incomes
It's important to think about a couple of things if you are going through a divorce or separation and will be paying or receiving child support. First, Pennsylvania requires both parents to contribute to the support of their children which includes providing health insurance, as long as the cost is reasonable. In addition, once the parents' combined net monthly income exceeds $20,000, child support will be based on a standard of living rather than the child support formula.
Spousal Support
In a divorce, or whenever married parties separate, the spouse with the lower income can ask for spousal support. It is designed to help the spouse with fewer earnings maintain their standard of living. The amount of the support is based on a formula and considers the difference between the incomes of each party, which varies if there are children.
In addition, deviations from the support guidelines can be granted in certain circumstances, including the payment of medical insurance premiums or if the mortgage payment meets a certain threshold making it burdensome for the spouse living in the marital home with the children.
Whether you are seeking spousal support or you don't think you should be forced to pay it, contact me today to discuss our legal options.
