Going through a divorce or separation can be tumultuous. But regardless of the circumstances, child support is an issue you need to address. The ideal time to compute child support is after you and your former spouse have agreed on the custody arrangements. Secure your child’s best interests and hire an experienced lawyer to provide legal advice for your child support case. The Law Office of Dorene A. Kuffer offers child support services in Sante Fe and Los Alamos, NM. Our legal team has over 30 years of experience, and we help you maximize the child support your kids receive.
What Factors Influence Child Support?
Calculating child support in Santa Fe depends on the guidelines set in the New Mexico Child Support Statute. Parents need to obtain the necessary worksheets to accurately compute the support amount.
In general, the amount is based on the number of children, the gross income of both parents, and the physical timeshare with the kids.
How much a parent pays for child support, however, depends on whether they use Worksheet A or B. Families that fall under Worksheet A follow a setup where the kids primarily live with one parent, then spend alternating holidays and vacations with the other. Worksheet B families, on the other hand, maintain shared responsibility and have two households for the children. This arrangement entails a shared responsibility for the cost of raising the children, as well.
A judge approves the child support amount for each family and determines if it supports your child’s best interests.
The Scope of Child Support in Santa Fe
Child support laws in New Mexico demand that non-custodial spouses pay support to the custodial parent. This rule applies regardless of whether the parents were married to each other.
The amount is influenced by the time the child spends with both parents, medical needs, educational requirements, and more. The calculated child support may include the following:
- Private school tuition fees
- Work-related daycare costs
- Auto insurance for teen drivers
- Long-distance visitation expenses
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- A child’s psychological counseling fees
Apart from providing sufficient child support in Santa Fe and Los Alamos, NM parents are also encouraged to pitch in for other costs. These can include music or sports lessons. And once the parents agree to share these costs and finalize them through the Parenting Plan, the court can enforce sharing these expenses.
Understanding the Limits of Child Support
Child support ends when your kids have been legally emancipated by the court, or when they turn 18. It can also stop if your kid joins the military, gets married, or passes on. But if they have a disability that makes it harder to become self-sufficient, they may continue receiving child support indefinitely.
Other limits involve changing child support amounts when a parent gets a raise. Courts may rule in favor of changing child support only when there is a change of 20 percent or more in the bottom-line amount. On that note, parents have the right to exchange financial records once a year to ensure each parent is providing the right amount of support.
Get the Child Support Your Kids Deserve
Child support cases can swing from peaceful arrangements to stressful negotiation sessions. As such, it’s crucial to have an expert legal team by your side. Here’s what you can expect from the Law Office of Dorene A. Kuffer:
- A Seasoned Litigator: The firm’s principal lawyer, Dorene Kuffer, has over 30 years of experience in family and criminal law. Since moving to New Mexico, she’s been providing legal assistance and representation for cases involving divorce, child custody, child support, and more for clients in Santa Fe and Los Alamos.
- A Personal Approach: Our lawyers carefully review each case and provide clients with honest and direct communication. This way, we can provide you with legal solutions that address your needs and objectives.
Let the Law Office of Dorene A. Kuffer help you achieve a favorable child support agreement in Santa Fe, NM. We focus on your child’s best interests and handle each case with hands-on legal guidance.
Contact us at 505-924-1000 today or email us through the form below to schedule a no-obligation and confidential consultation.
