Child Support & How It Could Affect You

The challenge of child support is normally a part of each and every divorce proceeding that involves dependent children, and it is as expected a payment that is made from the non-custodial mother or father of the child or children to the parent who has got primary custody. It is essential to emphasize the fact that such a payment is intended to contribute towards the wellbeing of the children, and there can be those that lose sight of that, feeling some bitterness at the thought of having to make a payment to a former husband or wife. It is just a very simple reality of life that children have got financial needs, and child support is supposed to make certain all these needs are met.

Via Title 23 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, the state employs what is known as the Income Shares Model to decide the amount of child support that has to be paid out. This specific model works from the point of view that both of the parents are actually responsible for providing for the children economically, and the obligation will be shared equally. One other foundational principle that sits at the root of the Income Shares Model is that a specific percentage of each parent's earnings will have been devoted to sustaining the standard of living of the children if the family remained intact. So, that same exact fraction should be allocated toward the quality of life of the children should the couple get divorced.

Although the Income Shares Model does demand identical responsibility for each parent, the amount that must be contributed will be based upon the respective net income of each person as a percentage of the whole. For example, suppose a couple has two children and the state regulations require a total of $900 every month to look after the requirements of those children. For the purpose of this example, the mother has got custody; she earns $4,000 each month, and the father brings in $3,000 every month. The mother is going to be generating 57% of the total earnings of $7,000, therefore the father will be required to pay 43% of the $900 that the state recommendations require for child support (in this hypothetical illustration that is $387).

If you want to learn more about child support, speak to a highly skilled Pittsburgh PA divorce lawyer for a complimentary consultation. A good family law attorney Pittsburgh Pennsylvania can provide the help you may need with your Pittsburgh PA divorce.