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Experienced Lawrence Child Support Lawyers

One of the big questions in family law cases is child support – what is it, and how much will I pay? The Kansas Child Support Guidelines are the basis for determining the amount of court-ordered financial maintenance for a child. Joseph, Hollander & Craft’s Lawrence child support lawyers assist parents in navigating Kansas child support laws and guidelines to ensure appropriate financial maintenance for their children. We can help you establish child support for the first time or modify current support orders to achieve a result that is fair to you and your family.

We Know Kansas Child Support Law

JHC’s Lawrence child support lawyers know Kansas child support law and the Kansas Child Support Guidelines inside out. Whether you have been through the child support process previously or are going through it for the first time, we will ensure you are knowledgeable as well. As we support our clients through the child support process, we endeavor to help our client’s understand how child support is calculated, what areas may be negotiated, and when modifications are appropriate.

In Kansas, parents generally must support their children until they reach the age of eighteen. As with other areas of family law, there may be exceptions to this rule. Parties to a divorce or paternity action may agree to provide financial security to their children after they reach the age of majority. Our Lawrence child support attorneys can help you determine what is best for your family and children.

Resolving Kansas Child Support Disputes

There are a number of factors that influence the outcome of your child support order. These include each parent’s income, the division of parenting time, the age of your children, childcare expenses, and health insurance costs. Your child support order may also be impacted by cost of living differences for parents who live in different states, child support paid for children from another relationship, long distance parenting time costs, and whether your child has any special needs.

The form used to calculate child support is a child support worksheet. Due to the many factors that impact the outcome of your child support worksheet, disputes may arise between parents and lead to litigation. For example, parents may disagree on what should be deducted as a reasonable business expense to determine income for a parent who is self-employed.

JHC’s Lawrence child support attorneys help parents in Douglas County, Jefferson County, Franklin County, Osage County, and surrounding areas reach accurate and reasonable child support calculations. Our child support lawyers will work with you to assess your financial situation, your co-parent’s financial situation, and determine whether any adjustments need to be made that are specific to your case. We will also represent you throughout negotiations and before the court.

Child Support Modifications in Lawrence

Kansas courts may modify child support orders to continue to provide for a child’s financial maintenance if there is a material change in circumstances. There are various circumstances that could constitute a material change in your case. The following situations are examples of material changes that may justify a modification of a child support order:

• A change in income or employment of one parent
• Parenting time adjustment due to relocation of a parent or child
• When parents share multiple children, termination of the child support obligation for a child who has reached the age of 18 years
• A child moving to a new age group under the Kansas Child Support Guidelines
• Change in residential parent

There are many other reasons a child support order may be modified. Our Lawrence child support lawyers can help you determine whether your child support order should be modified based on your unique family circumstances. If you feel your change in circumstances warrants a modification to your child support order, we will help you file a motion with the court asking for the orders to be modified to better reflect the needs of your family.

Contact Our Lawrence Child Support Lawyers

JHC’s child support lawyers can help you with any child support needs in Lawrence, Eudora, Baldwin City, Ottawa, Carbondale, and the surrounding areas. Call us today.

FAQs

How is child support determined?

Kansas uses the “income share” method for calculating child support. The Kansas Child Support Guidelines set the total monthly cost of raising your child or children based on their age and each parent’s income. The non-residential parent (the parent that the child does not primarily reside with) pays a percentage of that monthly cost. Joseph, Hollander & Craft’s Lawrence child support lawyers will help you determine your support order by looking at each parent’s financial situation and assessing any special circumstances that could impact the outcome of your child support order.

Do I need an attorney for my child support case?

There is no requirement that a parent have a lawyer for a child support case, but it may be in your best interest to hire one. Joseph, Hollander & Craft’s skilled child support attorneys in Lawrence can advise you on the factors and considerations that apply when determining your child support order. It may be necessary to have a lawyer in complicated divorces or when parents do not agree about the child support. While you may want to reach an agreement regarding child support, you do not want to agree based on a misunderstanding of the Kansas Child Support Guidelines or confusion regarding the child support worksheet. JHC has Lawrence child support lawyers that can help you calculate your order, consider factors specific to your case that may impact your order, file motions, or argue your case in court.

Do I need a lawyer to get a child support order modification?

You do not have to hire a lawyer to get a child support order modified, but it is usually helpful to do so. A parent must demonstrate that there is a material change in circumstances to modify an existing child support order. Joseph, Hollander & Craft’s Lawrence child support attorneys can help determine whether your change in circumstances meets the legal requirement to order a modification. We can then help you determine what can be modified. We can also advise you on any potential issues that could arise during the modification proceedings, file a motion to modify the child support order, and argue your motion in court.