Child Support

Arizona Child Support Lawyers - Phoenix - Tempe

In theory at least, questions concerning child support in Arizona are resolved by application of the Arizona Child Support Guidelines, which provide very specific answers based on each parent's income, the number and ages of the children, and certain expenses related to special needs, health insurance, child care, and other factors.

Nevertheless, legitimate disputes might need to settled or litigated as to the true income of one parent or another, how much time the child spends with each parent, or other issues. If you need help either determining, enforcing, or modifying your rights or obligations with respect to child support, contact the Tempe child support lawyers at the Weingart Law Firm.

Under Arizona law, the amount of support that the children of the marriage are entitled to is determined as a function of both parents' income. When the children spend more time with one parent than with the other, the parent without primary physical custody will pay a portion of child support that reflects his or her prorated share of both spouse's income, with a deduction for the time the children spend with that parent under visitation or shared access arrangements. Deductions are also allowed for support obligations to children from other relationships, spousal maintenance payments, and such direct expenditures as child care, tuition, or health insurance expenses.

Although the Arizona Child Support Guidelines formula for calculating payments in many cases yields a result that neither spouse reasonably can dispute, the inputs into the formula can just as easily be subject to considerable argument, as in the following situations:

• One or both parents are self-employed with fluctuating incomes
• Health care or medical expenses are unpredictable
• The paying parent is also responsible for the care of his or her own elderly parent
• Disputes as to the cost of child care, day care, or after school programs

Our experienced child support lawyers can evaluate your rights or obligations under a range of varying assumptions and provide sound advice as to the likelihood that a family court judge in Maricopa County might accept the assumptions most favorable to your position. When the facts don't favor your position, we can help you negotiate a settlement that you can live with. When the disputed facts and child support calculations do run in your favor, we can assert your interests persuasively in court.

At the Weingart Law Firm, our child support attorneys can also represent you in proceedings to modify or enforce support payments. In cases where you're subject to Title IV-D enforcement, and you might be facing garnishment or tax return interception, we might be able to negotiate a lump sum buyout or other arrangements to cure arrearages in child support. If maintenance of present payment levels is what you need, we can represent you in opposition to a motion to modify child support payments. Regardless of the position you need advanced on your behalf, our experience and familiarity with the law can help protect your interests. To schedule an initial consultation, contact the Arizona child support attorneys at the Weingart Law Firm in Tempe.