Child support disputes can get messy. Nobody wins in these cases, but they are necessary. The well being of the child is the court’s only focus in these cases, so it can become an all-out war very quickly. This is why the attorney that you choose makes all of the difference. They need to be someone who can best represent you, as your voice to the court. Having a good lawyer is not something to take lightly.
Child Support
Child support is calculated by a formula which is different for some states. But, generally, they take into consideration how much time the minor spends with each parent and their income. This means that a man who used to support his family and makes more than his ex-wife will likely pay more in child support if their children spend more time with the mother or she has custody. However, because gender has no role in the determination, the inverse may also be true. And we are starting to see this more and more with moms who want to work and dads who are ok staying home.
Once the dissolution of the marriage is final, there is still some accounting for those lifestyles. While child support disputes are necessary and messy, they tend to be as neutral as the courts can make them. For everyone involved, but with the child in mind.
Child Support Disputes: A Good Lawyer
Having a good lawyer can win your case, regardless of the side, you are on. They will know the laws that apply to your case and the boundaries of those laws. This can mean that they can manipulate the wording to their advantage. You may think that you are going to lose your case, but a good lawyer can win it for you. This is because they use their years of experience and knowledge of the law in your favor. Child support disputes are very complicated and not just anyone can try them. And you surely don’t want to take the chance of representing yourself. There are so many procedures and a vast lexicon of terminology. It is a focus of the law that you need a professional in.
Child Support Disputes: A Bad Lawyer
Just like having a good lawyer can win your case, a bad one can lose it. If you pick just any lawyer, they may not be familiar with child support disputes. They won’t have the experience of seeing different tactics and strategies play out. It is also incredibly unlikely that they will understand the laws involved and their limitations. If they don’t take the time to understand you and your case, it won’t go well. And without experience in this focus of the law, they won’t know what questions to ask you. They won’t know what information they need to give your case the view that it needs. And ultimately, how your case appears to the court is what is going to win or lose the case for you.
Child Support Disputes: How Your Lawyer Impacts the case
Your lawyer is your voice in the courtroom. The courts will assume that they speak for you and in your interest. whether you have one with experience in child support disputes or not can be the difference between winning your case and losing it. This is not the kind of case you want to take chances with, the stakes are far too high. That is because this is more than just a case and it is more important than winning or losing. It is the welfare of a child; your child. Your attorney needs to be one who knows what they are doing and has done it before, with a winning track record. You can start your search here.
You may be asked to retain your lawyer, depending on the lawyer and how they bill. This is not uncommon, but there also tend to be other options for payment. It is possible that you will need to provide your W2 and almost certain that you will need to provide some sort of proof of income.
These are all things you will want to discuss with your lawyer. They will be able to tell you precisely the documents that are needed and what, if anything, can help your case. That means that they will also be able to give you an idea of what your case looks like and how they think it will turn out. You can read more about child support disputes here. This will give you an idea of what to expect and a few facets that will play into your case. It will also give you some ideas of questions for your lawyer. If you are going to pay them to represent you, you might as well get all of your questions answered.