When a couple is going through a divorce or beginning the process of a divorce, child support is one of the most contested issues discussed, and rightly so. When children are involved not only do you want the best for your child, you also want the security to know they will be taken care of properly. When litigation is involved, child support discussions can become very hostile and stressful, with emotions often player a major factor in the communication. For over 4 decades we've helped couples with child support and divorce mediation services in the Indian Wells and surrounding areas. Our offices are conveniently located in Rancho Mirage and it is a pleasure to help out our local communities.
For a free consultation, please fill out our "Start Evaluation" form or give us a call!
When a divorce proceeds to court, the California Court system will determine child support by a formula, without taking in to account the rationality of each individuals role in the child's life. This "formula" will determine the total amount of support payments 1 parent will be required to pay. A Fair Way Mediation can work with you both to help come to a mutually beneficial agreement when it comes to the child support issue. We do not want a family to incur more stress over this, which in turn will cause the child(ren) stress as well!
Child Support: Income
Incomes are never a pleasant discussion in any situation, more so when it comes to a child support related discussion with your spouse. Although unpleasant, it is a critical issue that needs to be sorted out to complete a divorce, whether you choose the mediaiton or litgation route. In our experience, there is typically 1 person that earns more than the other and it does need to be discussed before it ends up in the hands of the courts or a divorce attorney. In the end, it could end up costing thousands more in fees than if you chose the mediation route and worked together to come to an agreement.
If by chance there is a dispute about a source of income that is generated but is NOT the main source of income, and an individual feels that this should not be calculated in while the other doesn't, A Fair Way Mediation will voice the opinion of each side to play the tie breaker in the dispute.
Most often, child support payments or obligations will be calculated in 3 primary categories:
The Income of Both Parents
Which Parent has the Primary Physical Custody
How Much Time the Non-Custodial Parent Will be Spending with the Children
Many parents also have questions on how to modify a child support order or where to proceed to if a parent is unwilling to pay. A Fair Way Mediation can work with you and your former spouse if this is the case to raise the issue and try to find a solution that will work for both of you.
For a free consultation, please fill out our "Start Evaluation" form or give us a call!