Establishing Reasonable Pittsburgh Child Support Payments

Child support payments were established to ensure that children are supported financially by both parents. Child support is your child’s right to financial support by the greater-income earning parent.

Beroes Law Center understands how to maximally pursue your child’s interests within Pennsylvania’s child support guidelines. We are dedicated to helping you secure fair support payments that protect your child’s well-being.

With over 50 years of combined family law experience, our skilled attorneys can guide you through the process of establishing, modifying, or enforcing child support orders in Pittsburgh and throughout Allegheny County.

If you have questions about establishing or modifying child support orders, call our Pittsburgh office at 412-621-6811 for experienced counsel.

Determining Child Support Payments in Pennsylvania

Child support payments are designed to ensure that both parents contribute financially to their child’s upbringing, even when they are no longer living together. In Pennsylvania, child support is considered the child’s right to financial support from both parents, particularly the higher-earning parent.

The Pennsylvania child support guidelines aim to establish fair payments that adequately provide for the child’s needs. These guidelines take into account various factors, including:

1. Both parents’ combined income after taxes
2. Each parent’s earning capacity
3. The number of children involved
4. The amount of time the child spends with each parent
5. Childcare expenses
6. Health insurance costs
7. Any special needs or extraordinary expenses for the child

To establish a support order, the state evaluates both parents’ combined income after taxes and or the parents’ earning capacity. Then, the court determines how much money is required to care for the children on a monthly basis. After determining this number, the court adjusts each parent’s individual contribution according to the amount of time the child spends with the parent and that parent’s personal income and or earning capacity.

The law and case law in this area is complex, but our attorneys have over 50 years of combined family law experience and can confidently assert your needs in court to secure a favorable settlement.

Complex Child Support Issues

While many child support cases are straightforward, some situations require additional thought and consideration. Our team at Beroes Law Center is equipped to handle complex child support issues, including:

1. High-income cases: When one or both parents have significant income or assets, additional factors must be considered.
2. Self-employed parents: Determining accurate income for self-employed individuals can be challenging, often requiring a more in-depth analysis of financial records.
3. Hidden income: If you suspect the other parent is concealing income or assets, we can help you pursue a thorough investigation and ensure all relevant financial information is disclosed.
4. Special needs children: Children with special needs may require additional financial support beyond the standard guidelines, and we can help you advocate for appropriate accommodations.
5. Shared custody arrangements: When parents share custody, child support calculations can become more complex, requiring careful consideration of each parent’s contributions and expenses.

Child Support Modifications

After establishing an initial child support order, circumstances may change that make it necessary to modify this amount. You may wish to raise or lower the final amount due to a variety of unpredictable life events, including:

1. Significant changes in income (increase or decrease)
2. Job loss or career change
3. Changes in custody arrangements
4. Remarriage
5. Birth of additional children
6. Changes in the child’s needs or expenses

You may also be eligible for a support modification after Pennsylvania updated its child support guidelines in 2017. Keep in mind, the court, on its own, may review your child support order after three (3) years of establishment.

Our skilled attorneys can help you carefully evaluate your needs and skillfully present your position in court. In all situations, the court seeks to establish fair child support payments that protect the best interests of your child.

Contact Us For Qualified Counsel

Beroes Law Center can address any of your child support questions and explain how your Pittsburgh child support case will be addressed. Call 412-621-6811 for a free case evaluation, or email our responsive lawyers today.

We work with families throughout Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.