According to the Department of Health and Human Services, $32.7 billion in child support was collected in 2021. It’s also estimated that one in five children in the US live in households that receive child support payments.
As a father, child support can be a tricky subject to get familiar with. You will want to follow a child support guide so you understand what your rights are.
Unfortunately, the reality is that often men do not get fair treatment when it comes to child support. This is something that we are actively fighting so that fathers maintain their rights.
Keep reading to find out what you need to know about Alabama child support as a father.
How Does Child Support Work?
Child support is used for divorced parents, or two people who have a child together. It’s designed to make sure children have the financial and medical support they need.
This is important if one parent is single and taking care of the child themselves. This can help them to cover their costs and anything the child needs.
Child support can also depend on who has custody of the child. A parent may take full custody, or they may have shared custody, which will impact child support.
The reality is that a single dad is much more likely to have to pay child support. A stepfather is not financially required to provide child support for their stepchildren.
This applies unless they have legally adopted the child.
How Long Does Child Support Last?
If you will be paying child support payments, you will naturally want to know how long this will be the case. The payment guide you follow will depend on your specific circumstances.
In most cases, the father can stop paying once the child is no longer a minor. This can vary based on state, and usually depends on which state is the state issuing the order of child support. In Alabama, for the purposes of child support, it is when the minor child reaches the age of majority, which is nineteen (19).
However, in some situations, child support may be extended beyond the age of majority, such as if the child has a disability, is not capable of self-support, or other special circumstances such as being held back in school or having special needs.
You will no longer need to make child support payments if a minor child is legally emancipated or where a court determines that the child is self-supporting.
Child support payments do not necessarily terminate automatically on the child’s nineteen birthday. In some cases, you may need to file for termination with the court. This is something that we can help with as well.
How Does Child Support Affect Fathers?
The reality for most fathers is that they are more likely to have to pay child support. Women are routinely given custody of children over fathers.
This often applies to divorced parents and even more so to unmarried couples. It can be very difficult for fathers to get full custody of their own children.
Fathers may also have to pay significant child support fees. This can be very difficult to manage when you have other financial expenses to consider.
There are also severe repercussions if you are unable to pay your child support. This is something that can impact your credit score, making you unable to make purchases.
Failure to pay child support could result in your drivers license or passport being revoked or suspended, and in the worst cases even result in you being put in jail, held in contempt of court.
Some fathers find that they are unable to purchase vehicles or homes because of this.
Your Child Support Rights as a Father
As a father, you probably have visitation rights and child support. This applies if you are not the main caretaker of the child.
How you manage child support payments does not impact your right to visitation. Even if you miss payments, you should still be able to see your child as dictated.
You also have the right to ask for child support payment modifications. This applies if you have become unemployed and have to take a lower-paying job.
Keep in mind that you cannot get a lower payment if you quit your higher-paying job to pursue education. Only a court is able to modify these payments.
You may also apply for lower payments if you are struggling with economic hardship. This could include medical emergencies or other financial blows.
Keep in mind that fathers are not guaranteed a lower child support payment even if they have proof that they need it.
How Child Support is Determined
The court is able to determine child support based on specific factors. In the US, this is calculated by looking at the parent’s income and expenses.
This varies significantly by state and by the situation. The child’s standard of living and needs will also be considered when coming to a child support conclusion.
As a father, you are required to provide financial information. You will need to show how much you can financially afford to pay to get the best end result.
In some instances, you may have to adjust your way of living to make these payments. This is because many fathers end up paying a significant chunk of their income to child support.
Having the right attorney can help ensure that you are not paying more than you should, and that you are given credit for the payments that you have already made.
What Happens If You Don’t Pay?
If you don’t follow this payment guide, you may be wondering what will happen. The reality is that you must pay your child support payments as they have been dictated.
Failing to do this is illegal and has significant drawbacks. Even falling behind on child support payments can become a serious issue if you can’t catch up.
This negatively impacts your credit score, and property may be seized to make up for payments. The court may garnish your wages, or you may even have to serve time in prison.
If you are struggling with these fees, you need to hire child support lawyers for fathers. Unpaid child support is subject to interest which can snowball a few unpaid child support payments into a substantial debt. Which is why it is important to act quickly if you are in arrears or being presumed by the someone alleging that you are in arrearage.
Child Support: A Guide for Fathers
As a father, it is important that you understand child support and what your rights are. After all, fathers are the ones that are much more likely to have to pay child support fees.
Do you need to hire a child support lawyer? Contact us today at Morris Firm for Men for access to child support services.
