Reaching Agreements on Child and Spousal Support in Divorce

GUIDANCE FROM AN EXPERIENCED CHILD SUPPORT LAWYER AT STRAZZULLO LAW FIRM

While the division of marital assets is generally completed at the time of the divorce, child support and spousal support will be in effect for years and may change over time. Your Strazzullo child support lawyer will be by your side whenever you need an advocate in family court for a child support concern.

Contact our New York law office to learn more about how we can help you reach an initial support agreement or change a support order.

Child Support Orders

Both parents are responsible for providing support for their children. Child support is based on New York child support guidelines, but judges can revise a child support order upward or downward, depending upon the details of your particular financial situation. Judges do not wish to do so; your attorney will need to present strong evidence to support any deviation from New York child support guidelines.

Many custodial parents do not realize that they can seek additional child support for a variety of child-related expenses, such as school activities, school supplies, clothing, medical costs, health insurance, daycare expenses, and after-school programs. If your initial child support order did not include these needed expenses, contact our law office to schedule an appointment. Our child support lawyer can go back to family court with you to seek a modification of your support order.

If you are a parent paying support and your circumstances have substantially changed—you’ve lost a job, taken a pay cut, or some other circumstance that makes it difficult or impossible to pay your court-ordered child support, you can also request a modification. Do not stop paying support without going back to court. The consequences of non-payment of support are serious.

Spousal Support / Alimony

Alimony is not guaranteed, but an ex-spouse may be eligible for alimony on a temporary or permanent basis, based upon a number of factors, including:

• Length of marriage
• Circumstances leading to the divorce
• Income earning potential
• Need for retraining
• Existence of medical or emotional disability

Your Strazzullo Law Firm divorce lawyer must prove that there is a need and that alimony is reasonable and fair, given the situation. Because alimony and property division both transfer assets between former spouses, they are usually decided at the same time. The tax consequences of these two are quite different. Your divorce lawyer can advise you on negotiating strategies that can be most beneficial for your situation.

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