Family Law

Child Support Lawyers In Colorado Springs

Helping Our Clients Create Solid Payment Plans

Worried about getting adequate child support? Think you are paying too much child support? Need to enforce a child support court order? Need help collecting back child support? Our team of Colorado Springs child support attorneys at Knies, Helland & McPherson Law are here to help you get the support that is lawfully yours and make sure the needs of your child are put first, or to protect you from paying more support than is required.

Child support is a court ordered payment established when two parents are no longer living together. In most cases, support is based on several factors; however, the specific responsibilities of each parent vary depending on state law. Colorado functions based on the Colorado Child Support Guidelines. The Colorado Springs child support lawyers at Knies, Helland & McPherson will help you navigate these guidelines and help you come up with a solution that is in the best interest of your child.

Speak to our knowledgeable child support attorneys in Colorado springs by calling (719) 626-8530!

What Is Child Support?

Child support is a form of payment intended to support and meet the needs of the child(ren) if the parents are divorced, separated, or unmarried. It is typically considered to be in the best interest of any child to have the financial support of both parents. Likewise, it is typically considered good public policy to require parents to effectively support their children to keep them from becoming wards of the state or otherwise. In many cases, child support is even ordered when the parent does not have contact with the child(ren).

Support is paid by one parent or the other. Several factors are considered by the Court in determining support amounts, including how much each parent earns, how many nights per year the children spend with each parent, child care expenses, medical insurance and other variables.

Child support is designed to cover costs for the necessities, including food, clothing, and shelter.

Other expenses may still require contributions from the parents in addition to any child support paid, such as:

Medical care
Uninsured medical expenses
Educational fees and school supply costs
Childcare
Transportation and travel
Extracurricular activities
College expenses

How Does Colorado Calculate Support Payments?

Colorado Legislature outlines the specifics of child support in the Colorado Child Support Guidelines. The guidelines allocate an equivalent share of each parent’s income and resources to be given to the child.

The obligation of support is determined based on the income of both parents as well as information regarding the amount that families that are intact typically spend on care for their children each month. The parents still share the support obligation based on their gross incomes. The amount of support is also affected by the number of overnight stays the child spends with the parent. Childcare, medical insurance, and uninsured medical expenses are shared costs.

In most cases, the amount of support calculated using these guidelines is considered appropriate unless one or both parents demonstrate a deviation. If the noncustodial parent’s gross monthly income is between $900 and $1,900, he or she may qualify for a low-income adjustment. The Colorado Springs child support attorneys at Knies, Helland & McPherson Law can help you determine what is fair based on Colorado legislation and your financial standing.

What Financial Assets Do the Court Count as Income?

The answer to this question may surprise you. Colorado includes unearned income, such as certain disability and retirement payments as income. If you work overtime or a second job, you may not have to count that as income for calculating child support.

Speak with one of our top Colorado Springs family lawyers at Knies, Helland & McPherson Law today to help you figure out what income to count toward your child support calculation.

Can I Modify Child Support Payments?

If you hope to modify your current child support, you will need to prove that a substantial change of circumstances has occurred since the original order was issued. The change must result in a change of at least 10% in the amount of child support owed. What courts determine as substantial varies depending on state law, but the family law experts at our firm can help you traverse those requirements. At any rate, the following may be grounds for a modification:

A change in your child’s medical needs
An illness or disability of the paying parent
A substantial change in either parent’s income
A change in the child’s residence

How Do I Get the Paying Parent to Honor the Arrangement?

The Child Support Enforcement Act of 1984 provides a basis for enforcing child support collection in accordance with the court order. The act provides district attorneys to serve your ex-spouse or child’s parent with papers. The papers provide instructions for meeting with the district attorney to establish a payment arrangement. The papers also outline the consequences of failing to pay, including imprisonment.

Before that step, the attorney will likely impose such consequences as:

Withholding federal and state tax refunds
Garnishing wages
Seizing property
Suspending an occupational license
Suspending a business license
Revoking the driver’s license

Regardless of the consequences imposed on the delinquent payer, the reality is that you have options if you are not receiving due child support. At Knies, Helland & McPherson Law, our firm focuses on family law and can help you get any delinquent payments.

Can I Collect Delinquent Payments?

Under The Child Support Recovery Act, a willful failure to pay past due financial support could garner the paying parent a charge of a Federal misdemeanor. Additionally, an amendment to the act makes traveling in interstate or foreign commerce to evade child support obligation or failing to pay a child support obligation of $2,500 or more for a period of two years or longer a felony.

Under this act, you can actively pursue child support owed you. Our attorneys recognize the unique challenges you face providing for your child and will work with you to make sure you get the financial support you need to most effectively provide and care for your child.

Do I Need a Lawyer to Help with Child Support?

Every state has child support agencies designed to help parents establish and enforce child support. It may be in your best interest, however, to hire a knowledgeable, private lawyer, such as a Colorado Springs child support lawyer from Knies, Helland & McPherson Law. This is of concern if you are not only dealing with child support issues but also other problems involving your child and his or her parent. It’s important to keep in mind that while the federal and state mandated agencies can assist with support issues, these agencies cannot help with any other issues, such as child custody, or allocation of parental responsibilities, as it is termed in Colorado.

What To Ask A Child Support Attorney In Colorado Springs?

Child support lawyers in Colorado Springs and the Greater Denver Area are experienced professionals who can provide you with the legal help you need to ensure that your children receive the child support that they deserve. If you are considering hiring a child support lawyer, there are some important questions you should ask before making a decision.

Questions to ask a child support attorney include the following:

How long have you been practicing law?
How long have you been handling child support cases?
What is your success rate in child support cases?
Do you have experience with modifying child support orders?
What are your fees for child support cases?
Can you give me a brief overview of how child support works in Colorado Springs?
How do you think we can best resolve my unique situation?
What are the next steps you recommend I take?

Asking these questions will help you narrow down your options and choose the child support lawyer in Colorado Springs and the Greater Denver Area that is right for you. Child support cases can be complex, so it is important to hire an experienced attorney who can give you the best possible chance of success. Contact us today to learn more about what we can do to help you.

Contact Our Colorado Springs Child Support Lawyers Today

Like any of the other legal concerns you may have about your children, child support can quickly become a complicated and even heated issue. Knowing your rights and working with an attorney who will keep your and your child’s needs in mind will help you ensure you get the support you need.