Your children matter to you. Do what is best for them.
Most people understand that child support is money paid by a parent to a party taking care of the children. Vancouver, WA divorce attorneys help clients work through the Washington State Support Schedule on a regular basis.
Family law attorneys from Vancouver, WA know that child support amount is set based on:
- The parents’ income
- How many children there are
- The ages of the children
The U.S. Census Bureau data shows that more than 50 percent of parents do not receive all of the child support ordered by the court. Supporting a child or more than one child without financial help from the other parent can be difficult at best, and when the disassociated parent is unreliable, life can become a series of financial dilemmas for the child’s primary caregiver.
Meeting with a Washington attorney who specializes in family law is always a good idea.
When things change, you may find that you need a change in the amount of support you are receiving or paying.
First you must make certain that the court in Washington has the jurisdiction to modify a child support order. A divorce attorney can explain that you normally can file a motion for adjustment or petition for support modification in Washington if:
- Your current Order of Child Support is from Washington, and
- You, the other parent, OR the child still lives in Washington.
If you live in another state you need to contact a Vancouver, WA family law attorney and see if you qualify to adjust your child support order under a law called the Uniform Interstate Family Support ACT.
If you don’t think that Washington court has jurisdiction over your case, you must file papers to argue about jurisdiction. See a family lawyer for advice.
If or when you get the court which has jurisdiction over your case, this does not mean that the Order of Child Support will be changed. There are legal criteria which must be met.
Contact Lambert Law for advice on child support. Call 360-737-1473.
In our next blog we will continue to discuss what to do if you have been served with an action to change your child support.