Moreno Law LLC

Child Support Articles

Child support isn’t just a formula: Understanding how Moreno Law can help

Many people going through a divorce or child custody situation in which child support is involved think that the support amount is determined by the courts through a formula, and that both parties have no choice but to accept the outcome. However, this is only half true.

Depending on your state, there likely is a specific worksheet that the courts use to determine the initial child support obligation. Influencing factors include: how much both parents have been making, including any bonuses or overtime pay; health insurance costs, out-of-pocket medical expenses, any childcare expenses; and who gets the federal tax exemption. Once all these numbers have been plugged into the worksheet, it provides an initial amount for the child support.

What is Paternity / Parentage?

There is a common misconception that a Paternity Suit or Paternity Action is used to confirm that an alleged Father is actually the Father of a particular child/ren. In all actuality, the Paternity Action is simply the name of the lawsuit that one brings when they have children in common with someone they were never married to and are no longer living together and/or are no longer in a relationship and a plan is now needed to determine both Physical and Legal Custody.