304.250.7115
CHILD SUPPORT LAWYER
IN BECKLEY, WEST VIRGINIA
A TRUSTED FAMILY LAWYER FOR SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA
There are many different circumstances in which child support is necessary, with divorce being the most common. Nevertheless, having a trusted, experienced attorney on your side can greatly increase your chances of a favorable outcome. Family lawyer G. Todd Houck in Beckley, WV, and Mullens, WV, offers excellent legal services for families throughout southern West Virginia, so contact us today for a free consultation.
HOW DOES CHILD SUPPORT IN WEST VIRGINIA WORK?
In West Virginia, courts use an ‘income shares’ model for calculating child support payments. The idea is to keep the same level of support that the child would have received if his or her parents never divorced or separated in the first place. The parents’ incomes are combined and then the court divides the basic level of support between the two.
There are, sometimes, circumstances that can change the situation slightly. For instance, when parents share physical custody so each parent physically cares for the child for a specific number of days each year, the support calculation method is changed. This model multiplies the parents’ basic support obligation by one and a half, and then allocates it to each parent by the share of time the parent spends with the child.
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ENFORCING CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS IN THE STATE OF WV
When child support is court-ordered, it is enforceable by the court. If child support payments have not been met, the West Virginia Bureau for Child Support Enforcement can step in. However, West Virginia does have a program that allows someone who is behind on child support payments to catch up on back child support. As long as the sum is paid off within 24 hours, the interest is not reinstated.
CHILD SUPPORT MODIFICATION FOR CHANGES IN CIRCUMSTANCES
In some cases, child support modification is necessary if there has been a significant change in circumstances. For instance, if a parent becomes unemployed, or has been given a large influx of income, child support can be modified by the court. In fact, courts often periodically increase the original support amount to cover expected costs of living changes, allowing the parents to not have to return to court as frequently.