You will experience changes in different areas of your life after you go through a divorce, and in order to effectively navigate these changes, you will benefit from preparing for what is ahead. This preparation is particularly useful as you consider how the divorce will impact your finances. It is helpful to understand whether you will have to pay child support or if you will receive child support payments.
Child support is an important matter to address, as is child custody. For many Nebraska families, joint custody makes the most sense and allows both parents to have relatively equitable access to their kids. However, even though both parents are sharing time with the kids, one parent may still have to pay child support. Knowing how this will work in your particular situation can help you avoid problems and disputes during your divorce.
The intent of child support
The intent of child support is to provide the finances necessary to pay for the critical needs of the child, including day care, health care, clothing, housing, food and more. Typically, the non-custodial parent will make these payments to the custodial parent, but in a joint custody situation where parents are sharing equitable custody, this can be a more complex issue. Factors to consider when determining child support include the following:
- The income of each parent
- Amount of time the child will spend with each parent
- The specific needs of the child
Child support in a joint custody arrangement should be fair for each parent while prioritizing the needs of the children first. After taking all pertinent factors into consideration, the court will make a decision regarding child support. In many cases, the lesser-earning parent will receive support, but there are situations in which both parents will chip in for the needs of the children.
What is best for your family?
You also have the right to negotiate a child support agreement with the other parent that will provide your children with stability and security for years to come. However, it is important to remember that all negotiated agreements are subject to the approval of the court. Whether you will be negotiating these terms yourself or will be going to court over the matter of child support, you have the right to pursue an outcome that protects your parental rights while shielding the interests of your child.