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Help for Your Child Custody and Child Support Matters
Putting Children First
Raising a child involves all types of expenses, both predictable and unexpected. Children are entitled to financial support from both parents, whether parents are married or not, but if too heavy a burden is placed on one parent, the child will be the one to suffer. The attorneys at GordenLaw, LLC strive to negotiate and enforce fair child support arrangements. We help clients in Nebraska to demonstrate the needs of their children as well as each parent’s financial ability. Our priority is to reach a fair agreement that protects your rights and helps your child to grow up safely and securely.
Helping Parents Reach Fair Child Support Arrangements
At GordenLaw, LLC, our lawyers handle family law cases in Nebraska, including child support. Drawing on our experience and knowledge of case law, we help parents:
- Negotiate child support through mediation
- Litigate child support issues
- Enforce child support orders
- Modify child support orders
Our attorneys will thoroughly explain the Nebraska child support guidelines and how they apply to you. We aim to keep our clients informed and empowered throughout the legal process, so that they know their rights and those of their children.
Skilled Mediators Strive for Amicable Child Support Settlements
Children fare best when their parents can be cordial and respectful of one another. Through the structured process of mediation, parents can often put aside their differences and focus on a topic on which they tend to agree — the importance of their child’s well-being. Mediation presents a forum for creating fair child support plans that allow both parents to share in the financial obligations of raising their children. Our skilled attorneys can guide the process toward equitable solutions that often save time and expense.
Committed Attorneys Go to Court on Behalf of Parents and Children
In some cases, litigation is necessary for your child to receive fair financial support from both parents. Our attorneys carefully prepare for litigation to achieve an equitable arrangement for your child. In addition, if your spouse has fallen behind on child support payments, you may need assistance to collect the money that rightfully belongs to your child. And when financial problems or the changing needs of your children alter your circumstances, we can petition the court for a modification to the child support order.
What Happens If Someone Doesn’t Pay Child Support?
When you’re initially assigned child support in Nebraska, it’s primarily based on the number of children you’re supporting and your income. But life happens, and sometimes, the payer’s financial circumstances change. You may not be able to meet your financial obligations and wonder what will happen next.
A Lincoln, NE, child support lawyer can help people in situations like this. Look for one who practices family law, a niche that covers custody and child support agreements, among other family-related legal situations.
Professional Advice Tailored To Your Situation
Firstly, a Lincoln child support lawyer can provide guidance and legal advice tailored to the specific circumstances of your case. As your attorney, we can help you understand your rights and obligations under Nebraska’s child support laws, as well as the potential consequences of non-compliance.
We recommend taking a proactive approach to missed child support payments, contacting a member of our legal team so we can facilitate a payment change or arrange with the courts on your behalf.
If you struggle to meet your child support obligations due to financial hardship or other legitimate reasons, we can help you explore options for modifying the child support order. We may petition the court for a modification based on a change in circumstances, such as loss of employment, a decrease in income, or unexpected expenses.
We can also help you gather the proper supporting documentation to justify your petition for a modification of child support.
Can A Lawyer Help Me Once DHHS Is Involved?
If your child support is far enough in arrears, then your child’s other parent may have contacted the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The DHHS may take certain enforcement actions, such as wage garnishment or interception of tax refunds.
Still, a child support modification lawyer can intervene on your behalf. They can review DHHS’s actions to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations and represent the individual’s interests in any administrative proceedings or hearings.
Taking The Next Steps With GordenLaw, LLC
If DHHS has initiated legal action against you for non-payment of child support, a lawyer from our firm can provide legal representation in court. We help you understand the charges or allegations against them, develop a defense strategy, and advocate for a fair outcome. This may involve negotiating a settlement with DHHS, presenting mitigating factors to the court, or contesting the allegations through litigation.
In cases where non-payment of child support has escalated to the point of potential criminal charges or incarceration, retaining legal counsel becomes even more important. You’re risking your freedom and other potential consequences. Your lawyer provides essential legal representation to protect your rights and interests. We work to minimize the consequences of the situation, including negotiating plea deals, arguing for alternative sentencing options, or appealing adverse rulings.
Don’t delay taking action if your child support payments are behind. Even if your child’s other parent has contacted DHHS, you may still be able to negotiate an alternative to jail time or massive fines. Contact us today for a professional legal consultation.
Contact experienced Nebraska family law attorneys for help with a child support issue
If you need help with seeking, negotiating or enforcing a fair child support order, enlisting a trusted family law attorney can increase your odds of achieving the best possible outcome. Call GordenLaw, LLC at (402) 403-6600 or contact us online to schedule a strategy session at our Lincoln office.
Modifying Child Support Payments After Remarriage
Our Lincoln, NE child support lawyer can tell you that child support orders are designed to meet a child’s financial needs, but life changes, like remarriage, can sometimes bring about questions about whether payments should be modified. If you’ve recently remarried, or if your former spouse has, you might wonder how this change could affect your child support obligations or entitlements. While remarriage alone doesn’t automatically lead to a modification, certain factors related to your new marital status may influence a court’s decision on whether adjustments are appropriate. You can trust Vanessa Gorden, a Top 10 Attorney Under 40 Awardee.
Remarriage And Child Support Obligations
When it comes to child support, the primary focus remains on the biological or legal parents’ responsibility to support their children. Courts generally do not consider a new spouse’s income when calculating child support obligations. However, remarriage can sometimes affect child support indirectly, depending on the new household dynamics and financial circumstances. For instance, if a parent’s living expenses decrease due to combined household resources with a new spouse, a court may view this as grounds for a modification request, especially if it believes the parent now has an increased ability to pay.
In other cases, if the remarried parent experiences a significant change in income due to career changes, altered financial responsibilities, or new dependents, they may be able to petition for an adjustment in their child support. It’s important to remember that any significant shift in financial circumstances, not just remarriage, can potentially justify a modification request.
When Additional Children Are Involved
If remarriage brings additional children into the household, whether through a new spouse’s children or the remarried couple’s own, the financial responsibilities of the parent paying child support may increase. Courts are often sympathetic to parents who have new obligations to support additional dependents and may consider these new financial demands when reviewing a modification request. That said, the priority usually remains on supporting the children from the previous relationship, so having more dependents won’t always lead to a reduced obligation.
Conversely, if the receiving parent remarries and their new spouse provides additional support, the court may consider this when evaluating the child’s overall financial situation. However, courts rarely reduce support just because the receiving parent’s household income increases due to remarriage.
Circumstances That May Warrant Modification
Our child support lawyer in Lincoln knows that for a court to consider a modification to child support, there generally must be a “substantial change in circumstances.” This could be a change in income, employment status, or family structure, such as additional children or increased financial obligations due to remarriage. It’s also worth noting that if the remarried parent moves or takes on additional financial responsibilities, those changes might influence how the court assesses their ability to meet child support obligations. Courts will usually consider all relevant factors to determine whether the change warrants a modification that aligns with the child’s best interests.
Pursuing Child Support Modifications
Remarriage can bring about substantial changes, but it’s important to understand that child support remains focused on the child’s well-being and the biological or legal parents’ responsibility to provide for them. If you believe a modification is necessary, taking the right steps to petition the court and demonstrate your new circumstances is essential. If you’re considering requesting a modification, or if you need more information about how remarriage might affect your obligations, we’re here to help. Attorney Gorden often teaches continuing education sessions for different attorneys on family law in Nebraska. Reach out today to our Lincoln child support lawyer from GordenLaw, LLC to discuss your case and explore your options for addressing child support in light of your changing family dynamics.