What About My Child Support?

I think the best place to start is to define just what is meant by “Child Support.” In family law child support is the ongoing, periodic payment made by a parent for the financial benefit of a child following the end of a marriage or other relationship. Child support is paid directly or indirectly by the non-custodial parent to the custodial parent, a caregiver, a guardian, or the state for the care and support of children of a relationship that has ended.

Typically one has the same duty to pay child support irrespective of gender, so a mother is required to pay support to a father just as a father must pay a mother. In some jurisdictions where there is joint custody, the child is considered to have two custodial parents and no non-custodial parents, and a custodial parent with a higher income may then be required to pay the other custodial parent.

You can work with the state or an attorney and the courts to establish your child support or you can set up and establish those payments in the non-confrontational environment of mediation.

While the court always maintains jurisdiction with respect to child support, there are many aspects that can be mediated.  This could range from setting an initial amount, agreeing to modification, or setting out the terms by which the amount overdue might be made up or even forgiven in part (if that is appropriate).  Once parties agree to the child support terms, this should be taken to the court for approval.  Because the mediated terms are uncontested, however, court action to seek ratification of the agreement will be less expensive than that of a court battle resolution.  The advantage of mediation is not just to save time and expense, however.  A key advantage of mediation is that it allows for better more meaningful solutions.

Mediation can help you create a more effective working relationship with your previous partner or spouse. This is one of the most important aspects of learning to work together in raising your children. Through mediation, you will learn to communicate effectively with one another and maintain a workable relationship plan for the future of yourself and children.

At WHYmediate?, Find out if mediation can allow you to resolve all marital conflicts in a positive learning environment that covers how to deal with all the special challenges in your life.

WHYmediate? Mediation Services

4500 South Lakeshore Drive Suite 300

Tempe, AZ 85282

(480) 777-5500

http://whymediate.solutions