Child Support

Children are expensive! North Carolina believes supporting children is a shared responsibility and children should be supported in the same way after a divorce as they would have been had the family stated together.

The Guidelines

In order to provide statewide uniformity, Courts use the Child Support Guidelines to determine what amount each parent is responsible for providing for a child. These guidelines are used in all cases in which the combined income of both parents is $300,000 or less. The guidelines provide a rebuttable presumption as to the appropriate level of support required for a child, however, a knowledgeable attorney can assist you with understanding why the facts of your case may warrant deviating from or changing the level of support suggested. Such reasons may include transportation costs between parents, special education expenses, or special needs and talents of the children. Application of the Guidelines is complicated and a parent’s income can often be a complex matter to decide. Contact Cristina Quantock for more information on how much child support you can expect to pay or receive.

Support by Agreement

Parties are always able to agree to what is an appropriate amount of child support. These agreements can exceed the amount recommended by the Child Support Guidelines and can also include items like college expenses or private school which would not otherwise be eligible for inclusion by the Court. Contact our office for more information.