If you are the custodial parent, meaning you are the parent who has the children most days of the month, then you will want to consider applying through the courts for a child support order. Even if you feel as though you earn a sufficient amount of income, the children have a right to be financially supported by both of their parents. By having a support order entered through the courts, you will be able to make sure that the non-custodial parent remains legally obligated to do his or her part.
Hire An Attorney
One of the first things you might want to think about doing is hiring a child support attorney. While it is true that many people are able to file the court papers requesting a child support hearing on their own, they may not get as much of a monthly support amount as they should be getting for the children. It can be hard for an individual with no legal training to make sure that they are being treated fairly and that all aspects of the requested support are evaluated. By hiring a child support attorney, you will be ensuring that your children will start receiving as much as they are entitled to.
Keep All Receipts
It can be hard for a parent to randomly list off all of the things that must be paid for the children, especially as some of those expenses are monthly and some are maybe only a few times a year. This is why you will want to start saving all receipts that show how much it costs to raise the children throughout the year. This includes everything from school clothes to the co-payments for doctor appointments. Remember, it is unlikely that the judge will order the other parent to pay for all of those costs, as you have a financial obligation to your children as well. However, those receipts may be able to show the judge the total cost of raising the kids, and then determine what percentage of that you need to pay on your own. The rest would be what should be covered by the non-custodial parent.
Since it can take some time between the filing for the child support and finally having your day in court, it is important to make sure that you are filing your child support papers as soon as possible. This way, you will finally be able to get the financial support you need to raise your kids in the best possible manner. For more help with the process, talk with an attorney like those at the Law office of Don Bonner.
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