If you and your spouse are divorcing and have children, you will want to make sure that you continue to properly care for them. Children can struggle through a divorce just like adults. One thing you want to do is ensure that they continue to have a stable and secure home. They need to have the basic things they need in life and maintain the type of life they are used to.
Child support is money that a parent pays for the needs of their children. Child support is typically part of a divorce order. However, when parents are separated prior to divorce, they need to determine how to best care for their kids. Parents need to agree on how to pay for their child’s needs, including health insurance and other expenses. A knowledgeable divorce attorney will help you tackle the issue of temporary child support, among others.
Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: “How is the amount of child support decided in North Carolina?”
What is Temporary Child Support?
When spouses decide to divorce in North Carolina, they must fulfill a requirement to live apart for a period of one year first. Children have financial and medical needs during the separation period. Temporary child support is money that is paid by a parent during the interim period until a divorce is finalized. This is not the same support that will be part of a final order. As part of your divorce, the judge will review the situation and determine the proper child support order to include. In North Carolina, parents pay court-ordered child support through North Carolina Child Support Centralized Collections (NCCSCC).
How Long Does Temporary Child Support Last?
Generally, temporary child support is in effect until a final divorce order is put in place. It is important to keep in mind that this is simply an interim order that provides your child with the necessary funds for their needs. A final divorce order will include custody decisions. Parents may share custody, and the children typically reside primarily with one parent while the other parent has regular visitation. When the children reside with one parent during the separation period, the other parent may be expected to provide temporary support.
Do I Need a Court Order for Temporary Child Support?
Many times, parents agree together on how they will support their child during the separation period. However, it is usually best to seek a court order. This is particularly true in cases where the parents are unable to come to an agreement or when the separation is especially contentious. A court order will ensure that the parent who is the temporary custodian will receive the money necessary to properly provide for the child’s well-being. An experienced divorce attorney will assist with the process of requesting and obtaining temporary child support.
If you have decided to divorce and you have children, you need to give thought to their financial needs. A temporary child support order will make sure that your kids will have the money and health coverage they need during this time. Call us today at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, at (704) 370-2828 to schedule a consultation. To learn more about child support enforcement, contact our lawyers at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, at (704) 370-2828 for a consultation today. We take cases in North and South Carolina.
The family law practice group at Arnold & Smith, PLLC includes four Board-Certified Family Law specialists and one Child Welfare Law specialist, as well as several attorneys with many years of family law experience that are committed to providing a powerful voice to individuals facing the often-tumultuous issues in this area of law. The range of issues our family law clients may be facing include pre- and post-nuptial agreements; separation agreements; post-separation support; child support (both temporary and permanent); absolute divorce; divorce from bed and board; military divorce; equitable distribution of assets; child custody (both temporary and permanent); retirement benefits and divorce; alimony and spousal support; adoption; and emancipation. Because this area of the law is usually emotionally charged and complicated, the family law attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC act with the utmost dedication to ensure that each client understands his or her options, and then act to achieve the best result possible for that client’s particular situation.
Source:
NC Child Support Centralized Collections | NCDHHS
child support | Wex | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute (cornell.edu)
Image Credit:
take my hand Free Stock Photo | FreeImages
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