When a couple separates, it can be difficult to determine parenting arrangements. Both parents have an obligation to provide financial support to their child. Laws are in place to make sure the well-being of the child is paramount in any separation negotiations.
At Hallmark Attorneys LLP, our child support lawyers know how difficult it can be to determine and enforce a child support payment amount. Based in Richmond Hill, Ontario, we are committed to providing you with a legal strategy to determine adequate support amounts and how to best protect the well-being of a child.
How Support Payments Affect Your Specific Situation
If your children primarily reside (60% or more of the time) with one spouse, the other spouse is required to pay “table” child support in accordance with the child support guidelines.
Essentially, this is a government regulation that specifies, in chart form, the “table” obligation based on two variables: the number of children and the income of the spouse required to pay support (the “payor”). The recipient spouse’s income is not a relevant determinant.
If your children reside more than 40% of the time with each spouse, child support may still be payable by the higher income earner, but there is no defined or automatic formula. Our Richmond Hill child support lawyers can advise you of your potential rights or obligations.
Breaking Down the Complexities of Shared Expenses
In addition to monthly child support, the spouses may also be required to share in proportion to income certain specified expenses (often referred to as “Section 7 Expenses”) such as daycare, uninsured health/dental, extraordinary extracurricular expenses, post-secondary expenses, etc.
Though some people believe determining child support is simple and formulaic, there are many subtleties in determining income and other variables which require the insight of an experienced family lawyer.
Call Our Richmond Hill Child Support Lawyers. We Can Help
We make sure that the child’s best interests are the focus of any dispute between separating or divorcing parents. Call our office at +1 (548) 708 4291 or fill in the form below to arrange a meeting.
