Child Support Overview
Child support in Chickasha is required whenever two parents don’t live together with their child. When it comes to child support, one parent has to pay while the other parent receives the money. These roles are determined based on child custody. Both child custody and child support are matters of family law.
Following a divorce or when a child is born out of wedlock, child custody must be decided. For unmarried parents in Oklahoma, there are the options of joint or sole custody.
Sole custody is when one parent alone has custody of the child. This means that the child lives with that parent. Joint custody is when both parents share custody of the child. However, it is not necessarily in equal amounts. One parent often gets more time with the child. This parent is known as the primary caregiver. The other parent may get to have their kid on weekends.
The parent who isn’t the primary caregiver is the non-custodial parent. This parent is required to pay child support to the primary caregiver. While the primary caregiver uses this money to care for their child, they also have to contribute a certain amount of their own money to their child.
Calculating Oklahoma Child Support
It is the responsibility of Grady County courts to determine how much money each parent must contribute to their child on a monthly basis. The main factor in that determination is the adjusted gross income of both parents, which is combined.
Other factors that Grady County courts take into consideration are the costs of insurance and daycare, along with any other support payments the parents have (alimony or other child support). Another important factor is how much time each parent spends with the child.
While the final decision is made by the court in Chickasha, you can get an idea of what you’ll have to pay for child support by using this free Oklahoma child support calculator.
Child Support Modifications
Once child support is calculated, there’s no guarantee that will always be the amount owed. Grady County courts understand that life changes. Perhaps your income decreased after you changed jobs. Maybe your child became more expensive to provide for.
In certain situations like these, you can file for a modification to your child support. This ensures that your child continues to receive the financial support they need even as circumstances change. Likewise, Oklahoma’s child support modification laws assure parents who owe support will not be strapped with unrealistic financial burdens they can’t meet.
Depending on what is different from when the original child support calculation was made, the same parameters will determine a different monthly child support obligation.
If you’re worried about paying or receiving child support, it’s important to understand how it’s calculated. Take advantage of the free calculator for an estimate of the cost of child support. You should also speak to a Grady County child support attorney about any questions or concerns. Call (405) 272-4100 for a initial consultation, or fill out the form at the top of this page.