Under North Carolina law, a child support claim may be filed as a separate civil action, or as part of an action for annulment, absolute divorce, divorce from bed and board (separation), or alimony without divorce. Most child support is calculated using North Carolina Child Support Guidelines.
At The Jones Law Firm, we can help you correctly calculate child support obligations using the guidelines. To learn more, contact us today by calling 252-848-4421 to set up a free consultation at our Greenville law firm.
Child support is paid by the noncustodial parent to the custodial parent or "… any other proper person, agency, organization or institution, or to the court for the benefit of the child." The support payment may be in the form of cash or property transfers. Child support is most commonly paid via monthly or weekly installments, is not taxed to the receiver, and cannot be claimed as a tax deduction by the payer. The custodial parent may also be eligible to receive reasonable attorneys' fees as part of the child support action.
North Carolina Guidelines Lawyer
Three different worksheets help to calculate child support payments, and the applicable worksheet is based on the type of custody arrangement — sole, joint or split. Also, there are separate support guidelines for low-income and high-earning families. Primary factors used to determine the amount of child support include:
- The incomes and potential income of each parent (including stock options and IRAs)
- The needs of the children
- Past, present and future expenses (including day care, dental, medical, food/clothing/shelter, and education)
- Extraordinary medical expenses for the child
- The amount of time the children spend with each parent
- The child's accustomed standard of living prior to the divorce (or separation)
We know how to investigate and provide evidence of facts pertaining to earnings, conditions, accustomed standard of living of the child and each spouse, child care and homemaker contributions of each party, and other relevant information. We will use this to negotiate and inform the court as a dispute arises.
Working together, many couples are able to reach a satisfactory child support agreement. However, in some cases a negotiated settlement is not possible. Steven Jones is a Greenville child support lawyer who knows how to litigate this issue and prove what is needed for child support that is in the best interest of the child. We can also help you with any enforcement of modification matters you need after the divorce has been finalized.
Contact Us
To speak with an attorney at our firm about your legal needs, contact our law office in Greenville, North Carolina. To schedule a free consultation, call 252-848-4421 or contact us by e-mail.
Our firm accepts all major credit cards. We represent clients throughout North Carolina, including those in Greenville, Washington, Wilson, Rocky Mount and Greene County.
