One question you might have as you go through the divorce process is whether you are able to garnish your former spouse’s Social Security payments to collect unpaid child support. The answer to this question depends primarily on the type of Social Security benefits your former spouse receives. You cannot collect unpaid child support from Supplemental Security Income (SSI). But…
Developing a joint child custody arrangement that works for both parents is never an easy task. It takes a lot of coordination of schedules and management of each parent’s needs, combined with ensuring the children’s needs are met. When you have a joint custody arrangement finalized, there are some steps you can take to make sure it works for the…
Supervised child visitation is any time with your children that’s court-ordered and occurs under supervision of court-appointed officials, social workers or law enforcement officers. The presence of supervision during your special time with your child can feel unnatural and make the experience difficult. It can be challenging to deeply connect with your child when there’s an outsider who is carefully…
Your very first child custody hearing can be a difficult experience, especially if you are unfamiliar with how the process works. However, a little preparation can go a long way toward helping you feel more comfortable in court, giving you a better chance at a positive outcome. Below are some tips to help you prepare for your child custody hearing:…
If you are a parent in a shared custody arrangement after a divorce, birthdays and holidays can be especially difficult times. You may need to accept that your long-time rituals can no longer occur as they once did. However, there are still ways you can make these times of the year special and meaningful. Below are some helpful tips: Have…
If you’re going through a divorce and have children who are either attending or preparing to enter college, you might wonder how you will handle tuition and other college-related expenses in your post-divorce life. The following are answers to a few of the most common questions we receive on this issue: Q: Are divorced parents obligated to pay for their…
One of the most important tasks to complete when going through a divorce is planning for your financial future. A part of this is determining your tax outlook after the divorce is finalized. Paying taxes is always at least somewhat complicated, but a divorce can make matters even more difficult. However, with the help of an experienced attorney, you will…
In any divorce case, two parents can either negotiate their own child support arrangements and enter into a legally binding agreement, or the court can mandate the amount of child support one parent must pay to the other. In either scenario, a court must approve the amount of child support to be paid. New York uses the Child Support Standards…
If you receive a formal request for child support (known as a child support petition), you must respond promptly and accurately. Your actions could impact your financial obligations for many years to come. The following items are some key points related to receiving and responding to a child support petition: You must comply with all instructions written on the petition.…
Divorced parents in every state have an obligation to support their children. Parents who are not the primary custodians are therefore required to make child support payments to assist the custodial parent with all costs related to raising a child. Once you establish a child custody agreement, it is a legally binding agreement. If the support-paying parent does not meet…