Child Support and Spousal Maintenance
Understanding your position with child support can be difficult. LAC Lawyers can assist you with the right legal advice to assist with this process.
Child Support
The child support scheme, introduced in 1989, was introduced to simplify the process of determining financial contributions by one or both parents for the welfare of the children.
Child support payments are either agreed upon by each parent, or otherwise assessed and monitored by the Child Support Agency. The amount of child support payable is based on a statutory formula which takes into account the specific circumstances of the family including the number of children and the income of both parents.
What is child support?
By law both parents are required to support their child financially. In some cases this may involve one parent paying a child support payment to the other, to help with the costs of raising a child.
How is Child Support calculated?
Child support laws in Australia allow for children with separated parents to be covered by the Child Support scheme, administered by the Child Support Agency. The scheme uses a formula, based on the income of both parents, the costs of raising children, the number of children in the family, and the amount of time each parents spends with their children whom they are required to financially support.
Can child support payments be disputed?
There are a number of steps that can be taken to dispute child support payments. If a parent believes the current child support payments are unfair, he or she can fill out an application with the Child Support Agency. If the Agency makes a decision which again is not favourable to the parent, further steps can be taken to have that decision reviewed.
Changing child support decisions can be complex, and you should consult one of our experienced lawyers for assistance and specific advice.
Can parents make their own child support arrangements?
In some situations of child support lawyers are not needed at all. Parents can make their own arrangements. These can be informal and unwritten or may be formalised in a written agreement called a Child Support Agreement. A Child Support Agreement, which is properly prepared and signed, is able to be enforced if one parent does not comply with it.
Child Support Lawyers
LAC Lawyers have a team of lawyers with the experience in family law (and specifically child support matters) that you need to get the best outcome. The following is a selection of our currently practicing family lawyers.
You only want the best for your family. LAC Lawyers have proven experience in family law, and will help you get the outcome you want. For more information about child support and spousal maintenance, call LAC today on 1300 799 888 (Sydney) or 1300 734 638 (Melbourne).
