Suffolk County Child Support Lawyer
Understanding New York Child Support Guidelines
Raising children comes with many responsibilities. When you are married, splitting those responsibilities may feel seamless. During the divorce process, however, time and money obligations become more apparent. Without ongoing assistance from the other parent, the cost of children's expenses may seem higher, and time spent chauffeuring, making meals and helping with homework may feel more draining.
Working with a Suffolk County child support attorney can help you understand child support calculations and the relationship they have to parenting time. At the Law Offices of Gary P. Field, our child support lawyers have 30 years of experience representing clients throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties in child support matters. We serve all of Suffolk County including Huntington, the Hamptons and Setauket.
The Child Support Formula
In New York, child support payments are determined by a formula contained in the Child Support Standards Act. Generally speaking, the non-custodial parent is expected to pay the custodial parent a percentage of their income, less FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act). The percentage they are expected to pay varies based on the number of children the family has, but it typically starts at 17 percent for one child and 25 percent for two children.
This formula is used for families with a combined income of up to $130,000. When families earn more income than that, the court uses its discretion to determine how much additional money should be added to the child support payment. In those situations, they consider factors such as:
- Expenses for private school
- Expenses for sports or music lessons
- Lifestyle of the children if the parents did not divorce
- Medical expenses
- Special needs of the children
- Child care arrangements
- The amounts of additional income earned by the parties
For high-income parents, these additional expenses can create Draconian child support payments. When a child support lawyer in Suffolk County at our firm works with clients, they help make sure the court only considers relevant income over $130,000.
If you are getting divorced in Long Island or the surrounding area, child support attorneys can help make sure you receive or pay fair custody payments. Schedule your appointment with an experienced lawyer by calling 631-223-7048 locally, or toll free at 888-644-1254. We serve all of Suffolk County including Huntington, the Hamptons and Setauket.
