In Mississippi, one of the most complicated aspects of a family law case is child support. Once the child custody and visitation rights are determined, it is imperative that the custodial parent receive a sufficient amount to provide the child with a safe and secure environment with all the basic needs being met. The goal is to serve the child’s best interests. Undoubtedly, all parents will agree this is critical. Still, there can be disagreements related to child support. Having legal advice is vital for both sides.
There is a formula that the state has in place to determine child support, but there can be disputes and deviations as to how much is requested and ordered. With child support, the custodial parent must receive an amount that suits the child’s educational, personal, medical and extracurricular needs. The amount will be based on the income of the parents.
Other factors such as visitation will be considered. There can be issues with the award as not all parents have a steady job or work in employment where they are getting consistent paychecks. That could be the case in jobs where the person is self-employed, works on commission or has seasonal employment. Some might be underemployed on purpose. This can be problematic and often requires legal help.
If the supporting parent has problems making these payments or is delinquent on what is owed, child support enforcement might need to be contacted. Or there could be a change in circumstances with either the custodial or supporting parent and modifications need to be made. To address these concerns, the first step is to have legal assistance. A law firm that specializes in family law might be able to facilitate a negotiation. If the case needs to go to court, having legal representation is key. Calling for help from the start is wise.