All parents throughout Schenectady County, and the state of New York, are responsible for providing for their children financially. However, because not all parents are married, the state of New York has developed child support guidelines, which hold that the non-custodial parent in a child’s life must make ongoing child support payments to the child’s custodial parent.
If you are a parent in New York who is not married to your child’s other parent, it is important that you understand child support guidelines. At The Colwell Law Group, LLC, our experienced child support lawyers can guide you through everything you need to know.
In New York, the amount of child support that each parent is responsible for providing is based on combined gross income. There are, of course, some exceptions to this when a child has special needs or when certain circumstances prevail. As provided by the Child Support Standards chart released by New York State, child support percentages are:
This means, for example, that parents who earn $60,000 per year and have one child would be obligated to provide $10,200 for that child, per year. Parents who make $80,000, on the other hand, and have two children, would need to provide $20,000 per year. How those amounts are divided amongst the two parents is in proportion to income. Consider the second example, where parents make a combined income of $80,000 and have two children who need $20,000 worth of support every year. One parent makes $50,000; the other $30,000. The higher income earner earns 62.5 percent of the parties’ combined income and is, therefore, liable for 62.5 percent of the $20,000, or $12,500.
While the above are the child support guidelines, a court may consider other factors that are relevant to a child support order. For example, medical care costs, educational costs, and child care costs may all be factored in. It is assumed that the parent with whom the child is living is already making financial contributions to the child, and therefore it is only the non-custodial parent who is ordered to pay child support.
If you have questions about child support, need to seek child support or enforce a child support order, or are unable to pay child support and need to seek modification, our knowledgeable Schenectady County child support lawyers are here for you. We have the experience and legal competence you are looking for, and have helped numerous clients in your same position. Contact us today for your initial consultation and more information.
Learn how to help your kids cope with your divorce with our complimentary guide for parents who are getting divorced or separated in New York.
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