PMCW Law

If you're like most parents facing divorce, securing sole or joint custody will be a top priority. Obtaining custody is only part of the battle.  O nce you have resolv ed custody of your children, you must deal with the financial part to support your children. In some cases, child support may be ordered to help cover the costs of raising children. Our Lake of the Ozarks family attorneys are here to help you get a general understanding of how child support orders work and how to determine how much support you are entitled to. How Does Child Support Work? Simply put, child support is a court-issued order designed to help distribute the cost of raising children between parents who are not together.  If one parent is awarded sole custo dy or a majority of the parenting time , that parent will li kely shoulder the financial burden of raising children on a day-to-day basis. In order to help offset these costs, the court may order the non-custodial parent to provide "chil...

When two parents are married and living in the same home, it goes without saying that they share the financial responsibilities of raising their children. If that couple gets divorced, however, the division of these financial responsibilities becomes more complicated. When a child spends the majority of his time at one parent's household, how can that parent be sure that the other is fulfilling his or her share the financial responsibilities? That's where child support comes in. The Concept Behind Child Support The custodial parent assumes responsibility for the majority of the daily expenses associated with raising children, such as the cost of: Food Clothing Living accommodations Daycare Medical bills Education Th e burden of these e xpenses can be alleviated by the non-custodial parent helps alleviate the burden of these expenses by giving money to the custodial parent. This payment is called "child support." Child support is a legal order, and ...