How the Child Support Process Works

When parents divorce and one retains custody of the child, the other parent, otherwise known as the non-custodial parent, is often responsible for paying child support. The child support process can be difficult to understand, so below are some quick answers to some commonly asked questions.

1. Which Parent Is Responsible for Paying Child Support?

Generally speaking, the non-custodial parent is responsible for paying child support. This parent may have the child on weekends or holidays, with the custodial parent being the primary caretaker. If the parents have joint custody and the child splits time equally between both parents, then generally neither parent needs to pay child support.

2. How Is the Amount Determined?

If the non-custodial parent works, a judge will determine the custody amount based on his or her income, as well as the income of the custodial parent. If the non-custodial parent doesn’t work, the judge will often use the parent’s last job in order to determine how much he or she should be responsible for. For instance, if the parent worked as a public school teacher, his or her contribution may be based on what a public school teacher makes.

3. What Happens if the Parent Doesn’t Pay?

If the non-custodial parent doesn’t pay, he or she will first get a delinquency notice and then may have a warrant out for his or her arrest. The delinquency notice is generally sent out after two missed payments, with an arrest occurring after the delinquency continues to accrue.

Child support is considered crucial to a child’s well being and to relieve pressure from one parent. Therefore, there are strict guidelines in place to facilitate the transactions. To learn more about a child support attorney in Palm Desert, please visit this website.