When couples divorce, there are many issues that must be addressed. When parents divorce, the main area of concern shifts to the care of the children. Both the parents and the courts must consider what is best for the children with regards to child custody, visitation, and child support. The child support at Eidelman & Associates explain that questions about child support are among the most common topics. Below are some of the facts you need to know about child support in Allentown PA.
- Child support not only includes financial support for the child, but also medical coverage. Settling the terms of divorce through mediation often helps to establish which parent has the best options available for paying for medical insurance and preventing both parents paying for coverage.
- Child support payments are usually made by the non-custodial parent to the custodial parent once each month. However, Pennsylvania law allows for a non-parent who provides care to the child to request child support.
- Court-mandated child support does not always come to an end when the child reaches eighteen years of age. When a child becomes emancipated before that time, the parent who is paying child support is no longer obligated to pay. When children are disabled, payments may be necessary for a longer period of time.
- The amount of child support the parent will pay is determined by a guide from the state. Online calculators are available to help estimate the amount of payment. The guide determines the payment based on the incomes of both parents and the number of children being cared for. However, other factors will impact that number such as the income of the paying parent or for custom custody arrangements.
- Failing to make child support payments can result in a fine and even time in jail! If you are struggling to meet your payments, contact your lawyer and find out about having reductions made in the amount you must pay for child support in Allentown PA.
Mediation for Determining Child Support
Mediation is especially effective for determining issues that relate to the well-being of children because everyone involved is concerned with coming to the agreement that is best for the children. Although the courts try to do this as well, mediation allows both parents to sit down and discuss their individual situations and what they have a realistic ability to do.
Parenting is a partnership that should not go away when they are no longer married. Sitting down with an attitude of cooperativeness and respect is a better way to negotiate the terms that are best for their children and which are fair for the childcare each will contribute in the future. Although terms may be challenged later on if circumstances change, it will be a lot less of a burden on everyone involved if the settlement is well-thought-out in the beginning and there is no further controversy. When choosing an attorney to work out issues like child support in Allentown PA, consider choosing one who is an experienced mediator to make the process one that is more effective and less traumatic.
