Fighting to Get Your Children The Support They Deserve
When parents of children part ways, Colorado law protects those children by ensuring that their parents share in the costs of upbringing in a fair and equitable manner.
In Colorado, child support obligations are determined according to a formula that includes several factors including the income of the parents, the spousal maintenance obligations of either parent, the other child support obligations of either parent, whether either parent has children outside of the relationship, each parent’s overnight parenting time with their children, and the other costs of child care, including child care, education costs, and health care costs.
Determining or enforcing child support obligations can be a complicated process for not experienced with child support law. Of course, trying to establish child support can be incredibly emotional, since your children’s rights and interests are at stake.
That is why Denver child support attorneys at Halligan LLC fight on behalf of clients and their children to ensure those children receive the support they are entitled to under the law.
Denver Parents Fight to Obtain Financial Support Their Children Need
Although both parents have their children’s best interests in mind, disputes over child support obligations can easily arise, especially if one parent believes the other is not paying his or her fair share of the costs of raising their children.
Parents may get into disputes over their existing contributions to child care costs, especially if they have equal parenting time. Parents may also dispute their respective assets and incomes, especially when a parent owns a business or has complex or highly valuable assets such as investments.
Child support can also quickly lead to disputes when the parent with the support obligation believes he or she cannot afford his or her obligation or even simply stops making child support payments.
Parents may petition the court to modify existing child support obligations; if support is not being paid, the parent owed child support is often forced to return to court to enforce the obligation through the various mechanisms available to the courts.
Our Family Attorney Ensures Children Receive the Support They Deserve from Their Parents
As one can see, the child support process can lead to various legal and logistical difficulties for parents. That is why Denver family law attorneys at Halligan LLC work hard to protect the rights of their clients and their clients’ children.
At Halligan LLC, we work hard to determine all sources of income available to the parents and to include all child care costs and other deductions to ensure the child support obligation most accurately reflects our client’s family’s situation. We can also help you take into account your respective parenting time and the other contributions you and the other parent make to your children’s expenses, including health insurance, child care, and educational costs.
Child Support FAQ
How is child support calculated in Denver?
Under Colorado law, the amount of child support to be paid is calculated according to the “child support guidelines” as established by the courts. The purpose of the guidelines is to ensure that child support awards are uniform and predictable and that children share in the successes and fortunes of their parents.
The guidelines take into account each parent’s gross income along with the parenting time each parent has with their children; the guidelines also include expenses, such as costs of child care, educational expenses, and health insurance. The court may then adjust the calculated amount based on other statutory factors, or if parents have very high or very low income.
What do I do if my child’s other parent isn’t making child support payments?
If your child’s other parent is not making his or her child support payments, those payments continue to add up in “arrearages”. If a parent accrues arrearages in his or her child support obligations, you can go to court to enforce the child support obligation on your child’s behalf.
The court has several options for enforcing a child support order, including:
- Entering an order of contempt against the non-paying parent
- Garnishing the parent’s wages, Social Security benefits, unemployment compensation, retirement benefits, tax refunds, or lottery winnings
- Suspending the parent’s driver’s license
- Imposing liens against the parent’s bank and brokerage accounts or other property
- Reporting the parent’s delinquency to the credit bureaus.
What happens if I or my child’s other parent experiences a significant change in our finances?
If you or your child’s other parent have a significant change in income, such as a decrease or termination of maintenance, losing employment or enjoying a significant increase in income, you may be able to petition the court for modification of the child support obligation.
Or, if the parent with the child support obligation gets a new job that pays a lot more than his or her previous job, the other parent may be able to petition to increase the child support obligation.
Let Us Help Your Family
As a parent, you only want the best for your children. It is understandable that you want to ensure that you and your child’s other parent provide as much as you can for your children. The child support process can be a difficult, emotional process where your children are concerned.
The Denver child support attorneys at Halligan LLC will fight to protect your children’s best interests. Contact us today at (720) 608-2361 and find out how we can help you with your child support issue.