Child Support

Establishing Financial Stability for Your Little Ones

Divorce is often difficult and confusing for children, especially if the new situation means the custodial parent cannot afford their previous lifestyle. Our Child Support attorneys on Long Island and in NYC will provide you with the help you need to help ease your loved ones into this new chapter.

Child Support payments are designed to provide children with enough financial stability to maintain the type of life they led before the separation. The custodial parent receives funds from the noncustodial parent to ensure that the children have a safe and secure home in which to live, are clothed, and have food to eat.

Understanding How the Court Calculates Child Support Payments

The monthly check received by the custodial parents covers the basic essentials that the children need to thrive. Children can receive these benefits until they reach a certain age – usually somewhere between 18 and 21 in most states. The State of New York ends Child Support payments at the age of 21 if the child is attending college full-time. If the child starts working full-time at or after the age of 18, or if certain other factors occur after the age of 18, Child Support may end prior to the age of 21.

To calculate the payments, the court reviews the income of both parents. The non-custodial parent will pay child support to the custodial parent. This term refers to the parent with whom the children do not “live.” Even in joint custody cases, the court will establish one parent as the custodial parent. New York courts do not give you “credit” for the hours or days during which you have custody of the children.

The number the court decides as appropriate for these payments reflects:

• Your annual income
• How many children you have
• Child care costs for the custodial parent, if that parent has to work
• Extra school expenses for special schools
• Healthcare expenses for children with unique medical situations