Navigating Child Support in Alabama

Going through a divorce is not only difficult for the parents but also a difficult adjustment for the children. When children are involved, divorces can get a little trickier. You or your spouse may have specific preferences for the children, but that does not mean that is what is best for them. When it comes to child support, it comes down to what is best for the children. 

Read this blog to understand how to navigate child support in Alabama.

What Is Child Support?

After the child custody arrangement is determined, there will be a hearing to figure out the child support. Child support is a monthly support payment made from one parent made to the parent who has custody. The custodial parent is the individual that the children will live with the majority of the time. 

Regardless of which parent the children live with, both parents are responsible for financially supporting their children. The monthly support payment amount will depend on a few different factors, including:

• Both parents' income (e.g., wages, tips, social security, etc.)
• The number of children
• The needs of the children
• Childcare costs
• Health insurance costs

If the parent the children do not live with is paying for health insurance to cover the children or their childcare costs, this could significantly decrease their monthly support payment.

While the custodial parent is also financially responsible for the children, this does not mean they would pay the other parent support money. Since the children live with them, they financially support them in that specific way. 

Is There a Minimum for Child Support Payments?

When calculating what the monthly support payment should be, the court will take into account that the parent paying child support will need some income to live on. As long as the parent has some money to live on, the minimum payment amount is about $50. 

There are few times when a parent will have zero obligation for child support. If the parent does not have an income, is strictly living on public assistance, or has been in jail for over 180 days, it will usually be determined that they are not obligated to pay child support. 

How Can a Child Support Agreement Be Modified?

If a parent needs to adjust the child support agreement, they will need to make a request. There must be a significant and/or permanent change for the modification to be considered. If one parent does not request a modification, the agreement will stay the same. The court will not do this automatically. 

For a child support modification to be considered, the family must experience one of the following:

• Change to a parent's income
• A parent lost their job
• A parent becomes disabled
• The children's needs change

The biggest reason for the child support agreement to change would be if the children moved in with the other parent. This would make them the new custodial parent, and they should no longer be paying child support to the other parent. 

How Is Child Support Paid?

Many parents who are ordered to pay child support will have the monthly payment amount taken out of their paychecks by their employers. However, sometimes this may not apply to a parent. 

If a parent does not have a check to take the payment out of, their payment can be made over the phone or mail, or it can be paid online. The payment should never be made directly to the custodial parent, as this makes it tricky to track the payments. You could be ordered to make the same payment again but through the state. 

If you are in the process of getting a divorce and navigating child support on your own, contact James W Bodiford Jr Law Office today for a free phone consultation.