Seattle Child Support Attorneys

Assisting clients throughout King County, WA

Talk to a Seattle child support and divorce lawyer now!

Experienced WA State Family Law Lawyers

We are child support attorneys located in Seattle, WA.

Questions about WA State child support?

Talk to a Washington State and Seattle child support lawyer today.

Our Seattle child support and divorce lawyers know and understand WA State family law.  Although Washington child support law is largely based on the parties income and the Washington State Child Support Schedule, there are many subtle nuances to properly calculating an accurate order of support. 

Many situations involving small business owners and those whose income is based largely on commissions can be extremely complicated.  The issue of work-related daycare can be as well.  Issues such as extraordinary medical expenses and extracurricular activities can also be confusing when it comes to who is required to pay for what expenses and when.

We're here to help you understand your legal rights and obligations under Washington's child support laws.  Our job is to make sure that a fair and accurate order of child support is entered.

We are Washington State family law lawyers and child support attorneys.  Our primary offices are located in downtown Seattle. 

Child support attorneys in Seattle, WA.  Washington family law lawyers.    Talk to Seattle divorce lawyer now!

In Washington State the courts are independently required to ensure that all child support obligations are met, even in cases where the parties involved do not believe that child support is an issue.  This requirement was put into place to ensure that state tax payers are not left with the bill.  Our skilled and experienced Seattle child support attorneys at our Seattle divorce and family law firm focus in all family law cases where the issue of child support arises.  These cases include:

• ·         Relocation Cases
• ·         Non-Parental Custody Cases
• ·         Paternity Cases
• ·         Parenting Plan Modifications
• ·         Divorce

How Child Support is Calculated

Determining the support obligations in family law cases is a complicated matter, especially since many parties are unprepared or simply unaware that the state of Washington legally requires that child support obligations be set.  For this reason alone, you should always speak to a Seattle child support lawyer if you find yourself involved in any of the family law cases listed above. 

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) does provide a worksheet tool to help parties estimate their child support obligations, however, calculating these support obligations is not always a straightforward process, which is why you should always consult with an experienced Seattle child support lawyer.  This is especially true in cases where the parties involved have complicated financial or business interests due to individuals that are underemployed or unemployed, or those who have a non-recurring income, investments or who own their own business.  On the other hand, the process for calculating child support obligations is relatively straightforward in cases where the parties involved do not have any other sources of income.  In these instances, the child support obligations are set based on the net income of the W-2 wage earners, however, it is always wise to consult with a knowledgeable Seattle child support attorney in either event in order to ensure that all of the child support required by law is obtained.

Beyond Basic Child Support Obligations

Parents should also be aware that their child support obligations go beyond the basics, and this is another area where an experienced Seattle child support lawyer can help.  All parents involved in child support cases are required to share in many other child related expenses, which are typically referred to as “extraordinary expenses.”  These may include:

• ·         Travel
• ·         Work related childcare
• ·         Sports or other extracurricular activities
• ·         Education
• ·         Uninsured health care

In some circumstances, the Washington State courts may also require the parents to share the expense of higher education for their adult children.  In any event, these extraordinary expenses are shared based on the net income of each parent and one of expert Seattle child support lawyers at our Seattle divorce and family law firm can help you determine what your child support obligations are.

Example:

John has a net income of $6,000 per month and Jane has a net income of $3,500 per month, which gives them a combined net income of $9,500 per month.  In this case, John would be responsible for 63% ($6,000 / $9,500) of the extraordinary expenses, while Jane would be responsible for the other 37% ($3,500 / $9,500).

Why You Need to Consult with Experienced Seattle Child Support Attorneys

The issue of child support is an extremely complicated one, both on a financial and emotional level, which is why you should always consult with one of our Seattle child support lawyers.  Our highly skilled Seattle child support attorneys have decades of combined experience in representing parents and helping them to enforce, modify or establish child support obligations.  Not only are our Seattle child support lawyers experts in obtaining the documentation and records necessary to ensure that child support obligations are calculated fairly, but each of our Seattle child support attorneys are expertly trained to negotiate and litigate on behalf of parties that are involved in child support cases brought by the Department of Child Support or by the Washington State prosecutor’s office.

Our Seattle support lawyers understand the financial and emotional challenges faced by parents involved in family law cases where child support is an issue.  Our compassionate Seattle child support lawyers treat the parties involved in these cases not as clients, but as parents who deserve dignity and respect while going through a difficult time in their lives and will work tirelessly to ensure that the case is resolved as quickly and professionally as possible.

Our Seattle divorce and family law firm and our Seattle child support attorneys proudly serve the communities of greater Seattle and King County, Washington.