Shelby Township Child Support Lawyer

Parents are expected to provide financially for their children at all times, including when the parents have divorced and when the parents were never married. In Michigan, the courts will determine the amount of child support a parent is required to pay, as well as which parent is required to pay it. The way child support is calculated in Michigan is complex and based on a number of factors. Anyone seeking child support, or who wishes to have a child support court order modified should speak to a Shelby Township child support lawyer for assistance.

Calculating Child Support in Shelby Township

The Michigan courts have devised a Child Support Formula that is extremely complex and takes in many different factors. Some of these factors include:

• The income of both parents
• The number of overnight visits a child will have with each parent
• The number of children involved
• The cost of healthcare for the child
• Any related child care costs

In most cases, a Shelby Township judge must follow the child support formula as dictated by the Michigan courts. If the judge deviates from this formula, he or she must state in writing that:

• The child support was not determined according to the formula
• How the child support deviates from the formula
• The value awarded if not monetary, when applicable
• The reasons for deviating from the formula

Child Support Orders in Shelby Township

Once child support is awarded, the courts will issue a Uniform Child Support Order (UCSO). The UCSO outlines the monthly amount the payer is required to pay, which includes the amount of base support and any health care insurance premiums added or subtracted from that amount.

For example, if a father is ordered to pay child support but is also paying a child’s healthcare premiums, the amount of those premiums is deducted from the base amount of child support payments. On the other hand, if in the same situation the mother pays for the child’s healthcare insurance, the courts may add a portion of those premiums to the father’s required child support payments.

Child care costs and ordinary medical expenses are also included in child support payments. The courts determine the yearly amount for ordinary medical expenses. These costs include uninsured expenses but do not include items such as over-the-counter medication.

Enforcing Child Support in Shelby Township

After a court issues a child support order, it is legally binding and parents must abide by it. When one parent fails to pay child support, the courts have a number of methods for enforcing the order. These include:

• Garnishing a payer’s wages
• Placing liens on real or personal property owned by the payer
• Garnishing or withholding state or federal tax refunds
• Suspending certain licenses such as a driver’s license or recreational licenses

While these are civil penalties, payers who fail to make child support payments may also face criminal penalties. A Shelby Township court may find a payer in contempt if he or she fails to make child support payments.

Facing Child Support Issues? Contact a Shelby Township Child Support Lawyer

Child support in Shelby Township is complicated, and often parents have a lot of questions. If you need to know more about child support within Michigan, contact a Shelby Township child support lawyer who can answer your questions and advise you on your situation.

At Iafrate & Salassa, P.C., we understand how difficult and emotionally charged the issues pertaining to child custody and child support can be. These cases are never easy, and parents often wonder what the future holds for them and their children. If you need advice pertaining to your specific case, call us today for your free consultation.