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The first thing to recognize about child support is that, although it is paid to the ex-spouse, it is not viewed as part of a maintenance award to the ex-spouse. In other words, an ex-spouse does not have a right to child support; the child has an independent right to be supported by his or her parents. Likewise, child support is separate from any distribution of the marital property. So, in the case of a high net worth divorce, even when the custodial parent receives enough in assets to comfortably raise the children, the non-custodial parent may still have a duty to contribute to the children’s maintenance. Of course, these walls of separation are all theoretical. Parties who believe they’re getting squeezed by the opposing side are more focused on the bottom line than on any single line item. If they think they’re getting hit in one area, they look to hit back in another.
That’s why it’s crucial to have an experienced Hartford family law attorney handling your child support negotiations. The Law Offices of H. Dyke N. Spear, Jr. has provided vigorous legal representation in Connecticut family court for more than 30 years.
The law in Connecticut defines child support, or maintenance, as "the provisions, supplies or funds needed to live on" but don’t imagine any judge will interpret that as minimal subsistence. The court operates under guidelines meant to standardize awards but because it is generally recognized that no two families are alike, judges have considerable discretion in determining awards. At The Law Offices of H. Dyke N. Spear, Jr., our West Hartford attorney sets reasonable expectations. We talk with you about your goals for raising your children, we carefully examine the finances of both parties and we advocate for payment plans that will meet your goals.
Parents with child support obligations are certainly not immune to economic problems. If you have suffered a financial setback, we can build a persuasive case for an adjustment in your support payments. If your spouse has petitioned for a modification that you believe is unfair and burdensome, we can provide the strong representation you need to prevent a modification from being approved.
Parties to child support disputes, especially fathers, can get themselves into trouble when emotions cloud their judgment. Fathers who withhold child support payments, often because they’re unhappy about breaches of the visitation agreement, run afoul of the law and risk being labeled “deadbeat dads.” If you have a problem working within the terms of your divorce decree, we can help, but you’ve got to ask our advice before violating your end of the agreement and jeopardizing your standing with the court.
Get the strong representation you need to secure favorable child support terms. To schedule a free half-hour consultation with The Law Offices of H. Dyke N. Spear, Jr., call us at 860.470.3296. You may contact us any time, 24 hours a day, and leave a voice-mail message if there’s no answer. We’ll get back to you promptly. We serve clients throughout Hartford County and Tolland County, Connecticut with very flexible office hours.