Child Support Agreements

I get calls all the time with parents that tell me that they are in agreement on everything and that there will be no or very little child support.  I think it is great when divorcing couples want to have a peaceful divorce.  It's a nice change to have a divorce free of drama and nastiness.  The only problem is that what you want regarding child support may not be what you get.

The court’s sole interest in your agreement is to ensure that it is fair to all parties, that the interests of the child or children are protected and that the agreement conforms to the mandatory child support guidelines.

I understand that it is not easy to find the ‘magic’ dollar amount of child support that makes both divorcing spouses happy. In most Arizona divorce cases, the parent with primary child custody feels short-changed on child support payments. At the other end of the spectrum, it is common for the noncustodial parent to feel as though they are constantly being hounded for more and more money. This constant struggle can lead to feelings of resentment and anger – two emotions that can prevent spouses from achieving the fresh start that they deserve.

To try and eliminate as much conflict over child support payments as possible, it’s important for divorcing parents to first understand the different elements that go into Arizona child support arrangements, such as:

- The child’s necessities;
- The capacity of each parent to pay child support;
- The ability and earnings of each parent; and
- The time that each parent spends with the child.

Once these elements are understood it is easier to find an agreed upon amount.

The bottom line is that the court will take all this into consideration when determining whether or not your agreed upon amount is fair.  The court reserves the right to reject an agreed upon child support amount if it is too far askew from the state's guidelines for support.

If you are considering an agreement for child support it would be prudent to first consult with a professional before proceeding.  This will save you time, money and bad blood between the parents.

For more information call Discount Divorce & Bankruptcy for a FREE consultation.

The experienced family and bankruptcy document prepares at Discount Divorce assists clients throughout Arizona, including the cities of Ahwatukee, Anthem, Apache Junction, Avondale, Bisbee, Buckeye, Bullhead City, Camp Verde, Casa, Cottonwood, Douglas, Eloy, Grande, Carefree, Cave Creek, Chandler, El Mirage, Flagstaff, Florence, Fountain Hills, Gila Bend, Gilbert, Glendale, Globe, Goodyear, Gudalupe, Kingman, Lake Havasu City, Litchfield Park, Marana, Maricopa, Mesa, Nogales, Oro Valley, Paradise Valley, Payson, Peoria, Phoenix, Prescott, Prescott Valley, Queen Creek, Safford, San Luis, Scottsdale, Sierra Vista, South Tucson, Snow Flake, Sun City, Sun City West, Surprise, Tempe, Tolleson, Tucson, Waddell, Wickenburg, Winslow, Youngtown and Yuma.

Visit www.discountdivorcepro.com or call (602) 896-9020. Discount Divorce is located at 13817 N. 19th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85023-6105.

Email: DiscountDivorce@msn.com

As always you should seek legal advice for specific issues like the one above before coming to Discount Divorce to have your documents done and processed so that your legal rights may be protected.

Arizona Child Support: What Every Parent Should Know

Arizona law requires custodial and non-custodial parents to provide “reasonable support” for their minor children. A.R.S. § 25-501(A). This obligation is not avoidable. In the midst of a divorce, the right to receive this support and the amount owed by each parent can be overlooked. To ensure that parents prioritize their obligations to their children, Arizona courts impose the “best interests” of the child standard during every step of a divorce or paternity proceeding. In fact, the court will give a parent’s child support obligation priority over all other financial obligations of the parent. A.R.S. § 25-501(C).

This aspect of family law is so important that determination of the amount of child support to be paid by each parent is not left to unrestricted judicial discretion. Instead, the Arizona Supreme Court has adopted a set of guidelines, which provide a formula for calculating the amount of monthly support owed by each parent. Appropriately titled the “Arizona Child Support Guidelines”. However, the detailed explanation available from the court can leave parents with more questions than answers. To help you understand these issues, we have outlined some of the important points embedded in the Guidelines. Unfortunately, when emotions are high and interests are not aligned with each other, it may be necessary to seek professional advice to ensure a fair outcome.

For more information contact an attorney or visit DiscountDivorcePro.com