Child Support

Child support refers to monetary payments made by one parent to the other. Child support was designed to provide the custodial parent with financial assistance to help cover a child’s basic life necessities, such as food, shelter, clothing, medicine, healthcare cost, and educational costs.  Child support payments are typically paid until the child turns 21, however, depending on the situation, child support payments can be terminated or extended.

As a parent, it is your responsibility to ensure that your child has the financial security he or she needs to sustain a comfortable lifestyle. You should not consider child support a form of punishment. That being said, if you feel you are being taken advantage of financially, it is important to hire an experienced attorney who can evaluate the situation and stand up for your rights. At Wisselman, Harounian & Associates, P.C., we can ensure that you are not making child support payments that are beyond your means.  In the event that you are paying excessive amounts in child support, we can represent you at a modification proceeding.

Determining Child Support

In New York State, child support is determined by the non-custodial parent’s income after certain adjustments have been made. The amount a parent pays in child support is a percentage based on the number of children in need of support:

• One child=17% of the non-custodial parent’s income
• Two children=25%
• Three children=29%
• Four or more children=35%

Other factors that are taken into consideration include:

• Each parent’s financial resources
• If one parent is currently paying child support for another child
• The difference in income between the parents
• Travel expenses for child visitation purposes

It should be noted that the amount a person is required to pay in child support can change with approval from a judge. Child support payments may be reduced or discontinued if one parent suffers from an unexpected job loss, a sudden illness, or a permanent disability. On the other hand, child support payments may increase if the custodial parent can prove that the child’s financial needs have increased.

Contact our Long Island Child Custody Lawyers

Determining child support can quickly become a heated issue in family court. Feelings and emotions not associated with child support make it difficult for parents to reach a mutual decision. In many cases, the father ends up paying more money than he should because the courts tend to side with the mother.  At Wisselman, Harounian & Associates, P.C., we can represent you in court and help ensure that your best interest is protected at all times. In addition, if you are entitled to child support payments but are not receiving them, we can bring this to the attention of judge and help you get the payments reinforced.

Please contact our Long Island child custody lawyers at Wisselman, Harounian & Associates, P.C., today at (516) 773-8300.

Contact Wisselman, Harounian & Associates, P.C.

Wisselman, Harounian & Associates, P.C. is proud to provide legal representation for clients in the New York Metropolitan area, including:  Long Island, Nassau County, Suffolk County, New York City, Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Staten Island, Westchester, Rockland Counties and New Jersey.