Jacksonville Child Support Lawyer

Fighting on Behalf of Families

One of the most pressing issues for parents to address during a divorce is child support. At The Trevor J. Avery Law Firm, we offer compassionate guidance throughout a child support case, seeking a solution that is in the best interests of your child while protecting your financial interests. Our seasoned Jacksonville child support attorney can fight on your behalf to ensure your child receives the proper amount of child support.

How to Calculate Child Support in North Carolina

Both parents are generally responsible for child support until a child turns 18, or 20 if they are still in high school. The custodial parent is generally assumed to be spending the appropriate amount of money on the child while the non-custodial parent typically needs to make payments. Support is intended to cover some of the cost associated with food, clothing, shelter, education, insurance, medical expenses, and extracurricular activities.

In many cases, child support agreements can be made outside of court between both parents. If a fair amount cannot be agreed upon, the court may need to step in to determine what a parent should pay. To make a determination, income from salary, bonuses, pensions, and severance are considered. If you don’t believe a child support order is fair, you can petition the court for a modification of the original order.

What Happens when One Parent Does Not Pay Child Support?

Once child support is determined by the court, each parent is responsible for upholding their end of the order. A parent that does not pay their child support can be held in contempt of court. Contempt of court can result in fines, or even garnishment of wages, seizure of property, or withholding federal and state income taxes. Working with an attorney can help ensure the child support order is upheld and each parent is responsible for their share of the support order.

How Long do You Have to Pay Child Support in NC?

In most cases in North Carolina, a parent’s child support obligation ends when the child reaches eighteen years old. Exceptions to this rule include the following:

• Child support ends immediately if the child is emancipated.
• If the child is enrolled in a cooperative innovative high school program until the child completes the fourth year or turns 18 years of age, whichever occurs later.

Experienced Jacksonville Child Support Attorney

Whether you need assistance with the initial child support plan or want to change an existing child support order, work with the team at The Trevor J. Avery Law Firm. We provide compassionate guidance throughout the child support process. We have provided our community, including members of the armed forces, with the reliable representation our clients can trust.