There are many things to consider when looking for a child support attorney. You’ll want to find someone who has experience in your area and is familiar with the specific laws regarding child support.
The courts have developed formulas to determine how much a non-custodial parent should pay in child support payments. These calculations are based on income, custody, and other factors.
Experience
When parents divorce, it is important to understand their legal obligations to support their children. This often requires the assistance of an attorney.
Child support is generally calculated using guidelines based on the incomes of both parents. However, many factors can affect the amount of child support ordered.
Fortunately, the courts are aware of these issues and can make orders that fit the specific circumstances of each case.
A child support attorney Fullerton, CA can help you prepare a request for child support and file it with the court. They can also assist you at a support hearing and ensure you attend on time.
A child support lawyer can help you resolve issues such as a decrease in child support payments due to a change in employment, remarriage of a parent, additional child care costs, or a significant increase in the cost of living, including private school and college tuition expenses. They can also help you file a modification petition seeking increased or decreased child support.
Reputation
A reputation is a powerful tool that can influence how you are perceived and what you can do. It can also impact your finances and ability to live a fulfilling life.
While many assume reputation is about media coverage, it’s a more complex and tangible concept. A good reputation can mean a person or company is regarded as reliable and trustworthy.
Finding an attorney with the right reputation for your case is important. You should check out the attorney directory in your state to see if they’re in good standing and to learn about their licensing credentials. This will let you know if they can represent you and, if they have any issues, the reasons for their license suspension. You should also ask your community if anyone has heard of an attorney. This is the best way to determine if they’re worthy of your business.
Fees
When hiring a child support attorney, it’s important to know the fees they charge. These can vary depending on the case’s complexity and duration.
A simple, uncontested case might have a flat fee of about $2,500 to $5,000. On the other hand, a contested case that goes to trial could cost parents thousands of dollars.
Some attorneys will charge an hourly rate for their services, while others may offer a flat fee with an additional payment clause.
Regardless of the fee structure, hiring an experienced and knowledgeable attorney when dealing with child support matters is important. This can help ensure a positive outcome for your case.
A good attorney will be able to explain all the rules of the law and provide advice on how to proceed. They will also know how to present your case in a way that encourages the judge to grant you a favorable ruling.
Communication
Your child support attorney needs to be able to communicate clearly and easily with you. This includes email, phone calls, and in-person visits. They also need to communicate effectively on your behalf with the opposing party, judges, other lawyers, and people who do not work in family law, like accountants.
Communication skills include the content of actual words spoken or written, how those words are conveyed, and listening or reading skills. They may also involve non-verbal cues like facial expressions, gestures, or body language.
Lawyers who communicate with their clients promptly and effectively often get positive feedback and referrals and comply with ethics rules. They can do this by using tools like client portals that allow clients to access information about their cases anytime, cutting back on time-intensive back-and-forth communications between attorneys and their clients.
