The amount of child support a parent has to pay depends on the number of children he or she has, and the amount of money that he or she makes. However, not all income is included in child support calculations. Parents are allowed to deduct certain types of income and expenses from their gross income,…
If parents share time with their children equally, does one parent still have to pay child support? In the past, many judges awarded mothers primary custody of the children, while fathers were left with limited visitation schedules and an obligation of child support. Today, this is no longer the norm. It is not unusual for…
Divorce is an expensive process, even without an attorney. The cost of paying for two separate sets of living expenses will often stretch a former couple’s budget to the limit, and there may not be much cash leftover for additional expenses. When this is the case, some couples agree to share a divorce attorney in…
While no one enjoys paying taxes, having children means that most parents will receive a sizeable income tax return every April. While married parents have the opportunity to claim these tax benefits together, parents who are divorced will have to decide which parent will claim the exemptions and credits offered by the federal government each…
For many couples, divorce is a long time in the making. Whether the divorce results from years of growing hostility or resentment or comes shortly after a major blowup, most people know that a divorce is imminent for weeks or even months in advance. If you are thinking of divorcing your spouse or believe that…
Ideally, every divorcing couple would treat each other with respect and negotiate a settlement agreement which fits each person’s needs. In the real world, divorces are often messy, and some spouses may play dirty to get what they want. Unfortunately, this means that many people have had their reputations tarnished by false allegations in divorce…
Most people are familiar with the concept of expert witnesses through watching legal procedural TV shows like Law & Order. In these types of programs, the expert witness is usually a hired gun who comes into the courtroom with damning evidence that cinches the case for one side or the other. In the actual legal…
For parents with children, getting a divorce requires each spouse to make multiple decisions about their children’s futures. When working through a divorce settlement with your spouse, be sure that your plan for child support and visitation addresses each of these ten issues before signing any paperwork. #1: Where Will the Children Live? First and…
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau report, 14.6 million Americans, or one-tenth of the nation’s workforce, identifies as self-employed. With more people working for themselves than ever, calculating child support payments is becoming more complicated. If you or your former spouse is self-employed, be aware of how the court will use employment information to…