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Family Law

Some important differences you need to know when it comes to Child Custody and Child Support

Child custody and child support are two of the most important court orders in today’s society. Each is very similar to the other in many ways, but there are some important differences that you need to be aware of when it comes to child custody and child support.

Child custody refers to the rights that a parent has over the life of the children that they have given birth to. In most states a child custody case can take up to six months before the court decides on a decision.

Child support is a type of custody case that involves the amount that a parent must pay for providing for the financial needs of their children. Child support can either be awarded directly to the custodial parent or to another person who provides for the needs of the children. In a child support case the court will determine how much support is owed and the court can also make modifications to the payments as necessary.

The child support that is awarded directly to the custodial parent is usually calculated through an hourly wage rate for each child. The support payment will not exceed forty percent of the monthly income of the non-custodial parent, unless the custodial parent is the primary caregiver of the children. In most cases the court will allow for the non-custodial parent to contribute less than forty percent of the cost of their own child care.

Child support is not only determined by how much a parent earns, but also by the number of children that they have. The more children that a non-custodial parent has the less money they can afford to pay for their child care. If the custodial parent has several children they may be required to pay a percentage of their income that is equal to their share of the children and that percentage may increase over time.

Child support is not automatic when a parent is involved in a marriage or a civil union. Parents that have been married for at least two years are required to pay the full amount of child support that has been ordered by the court. There are some other types of non-spousal relationships that also require parents to pay child support in order to keep their relationship intact. The child support that is awarded to the custodial parent may be reduced in some cases if one of them remarries. In case you are living in Florida, you can contact John Buchmiller & Associates, LLC, and hire the best Pembroke Pines Family Attorney for Child Support.