According to the most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 48.7 percent of the 13.4 million custodial parents in the country have court orders or other agreements requiring noncustodial parents to provide financial support to their children. A substantial majority of these agreements, 89.8 percent, arose from decisions by courts or government agencies. Only 10.2 percent of these parents relied on informal agreements.
A consultation with a Jenkintown family lawyer could provide important insights about how to create an agreement with your child’s other parent. Even people going through uncontested divorces often require advice from divorce lawyers about how to calculate child support and develop a custody schedule.
A Jenkintown divorce lawyer will guide you through issues such as:
- Options for child custody
- Establishment of child support
- Spousal support
- The best interests of the child
Types of Child Custody
A family lawyer could explain how to approach child custody based on your specific circumstances. In uncontested divorces, the parents typically create a co-parenting plan. While developing your plan, a child custody attorney could help you make informed decisions about issues such as parental relocation, vacation scheduling, rights to make medical decisions, and much more. Family courts in Pennsylvania recognize seven forms of child custody:
- Shared physical custody
- Primary physical custody
- Partial physical custody
- Sole physical custody
- Supervised physical custody
- Shared legal custody
- Sole legal custody
As you and the other parent work through your options, a child custody lawyer could defend your parental rights. If you desire privacy and control during this process, a collaborative law approach can help limit the need for litigation. With collaborative law, you and a divorce lawyer will negotiate with the other party. Collaborative law offers an alternative to family court intervention when both parties desire a mutually acceptable outcome.
If you and the other parent reach terms regarding custody outside of court, a child custody lawyer could prepare the written agreement. Otherwise, a family lawyer could present your wishes during a court hearing and seek a custodial determination from the judge. Representation from a Jenkintown divorce lawyer will help prepare you to understand court procedures. As your child custody attorney, we will strive to clearly communicate your concerns and preserve your relationship with your child.
Calculation of Child Support
A child support attorney will explain how your personal income, everyday expenses for the children, shared custody schedule, and health insurance costs will influence the amount of child support. Your child support lawyer will inform you about state guidelines for calculating child support. Advice from a child support lawyer may allow you to create a post-divorce family budget. A child support attorney could represent your interests in court if the other parent challenges your support request or ceases payment.
Financial Transition
Relationships that involved partners with significantly unequal incomes might qualify for spousal support. A family lawyer may recommend pursuing this compensation to maintain financial stability during your transition to single life. A Jenkintown divorce lawyer can help you evaluate whether spousal support might play a role in your divorce settlement.
The Role of Child Well-Being in Support and Custody Decisions
A child support lawyer will focus on achieving a resolution that meets your child’s financial needs. Advice from a divorce attorney could protect your child from future hardship. During uncontested divorces, a review of the support plan by a child support attorney can alert you to expenses that you might have overlooked.
During your consultations with a Jenkintown family lawyer, you will learn that the law considers more than parental wishes in a custody decision. Courts value the best interests of the child with an emphasis on safety and familial relationships. Stable home life and continuity of schooling and extracurricular activities could play roles as well. After reviewing your situation, a child custody lawyer might identify the issues most pertinent to your case. The advocacy of a child custody attorney might allow you to challenge allegations made against you by the other party.
Contact Us
At Joanne Kleiner & Associates, you can have access to a Jenkintown family lawyer who’s willing to defend your parental rights. Whether you need legal representation or are still just curious about your options, we can provide the guidance you need. Call us at 215-886-1266 or email us to schedule an appointment with a divorce lawyer and receive personalized advice.
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