Virginia Child Support Determination

Parents should be knowledgeable about Virginia child support determination, as these child support payments can be extremely important to all parties involved. The amount of child support decreed can make the difference in paying all of your monthly bills or not having enough left over. Therefore, it is vital to speak with a professional Virginia child support lawyer who can help you estimate how much child support you will either have to pay or may receive.

Child support issues can arise if a couple is separating or when there is a child born outside of a relationship and paternity has been established. Even if you and the other parent have a private agreement, you should be aware of the law in case you do go to court one day. Child support is generally paid by the non-custodial parent to the custodial parent. The custodial parent is the parent with whom the child mainly lives with, while the non-custodial parent usually has visitation rights. Read on to learn more about Virginia child support determination, as well as the ways a dedicated Virginia family attorney can make a difference in your case.

Calculating Child Support in Virginia

Generally, the process of child support payments is determined by using a formula created by the state of Virginia. This worksheet allows anyone to figure out how much they may be expected to pay depending on the number of children involved and their annual salary. There may be adjustments made for spousal support payments and other child support payments as well.

Factors of Virginia Child Support Determination

However, this guideline is only an estimate and the actual amount may differ depending on an individual’s specific circumstances. There are also a number of factors the court may take into consideration that can either increase or decrease the monthly child support payment. These factors include:

  • Extremely high capital gains, such as a huge gain from selling a marital home.
  • Written agreements regarding child support amounts.
  • Tax consequences regarding child care expenses and dependent children.
  • Any temporary child support agreements.
  • Standard of living during the marriage.
  • Age and the physical and mental health of the child, including any unreimbursed medical expenses.
  • Monetary support provided by other family members.
  • Debts from making an income.
  • Debts created during the marriage in order to support the children.
  • Custody arrangements.
  • Any independent financial resources the child may have.
  • Needs, earning capacity, and financial obligations of each parent.
  • Any contribution made by the parent, financial or non-financial, for the family.
  • Assigning income to a parent that is voluntarily unemployed.
  • Direct payments for life insurance coverage or health insurance.
  • Education and training of the parents and their ability to obtain an education or work-related training.
  • How marital property was divided.

In order to learn more about how the courts play a role in Virginia child support determination, consider reaching out to a skilled Virginia family lawyer to schedule a consultation.

Modifying Child Support in Virginia

If an individual has a child support agreement already in place, they can still adjust the payment amount by requesting a modification. The court will grant a modification if at least three years have passed since the original child support was made, or before three years if special circumstances have come about that require a change in child support. Some examples of special circumstances include additional children, the loss of a job, or a substantial decrease in income.

For more information on Virginia child support determination, contact a skilled Virginia family attorney today.