Child support is a legal obligation that parents have to financially support their children. In Arizona, unmarried parents who have separated or divorced are required to pay child support. The child support laws in Arizona are designed to ensure that children have access to the financial resources they need to thrive.
If you are an unmarried parent in Arizona and are seeking child support, there are some important things you need to know.
Establishing Paternity
The first step in obtaining child support is establishing paternity. Paternity can be established through a court order or through a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity. If the parents were not married at the time of the child’s birth, the father may need to establish paternity before child support can be ordered.
Calculating Child Support
The amount of child support in Arizona is based on a formula that takes into account the parent’s income, the number of children, and other factors. The formula is based on the Arizona Child Support Guidelines, which are designed to ensure that child support is fair and reasonable.
Enforcing Child Support Orders
If a parent is ordered to pay child support and fails to do so, there are a number of enforcement measures that can be taken. These include wage garnishment, seizure of assets, suspension of a driver’s license, and even imprisonment.
Modifying Child Support Orders
Child support orders can be modified if there is a significant change in circumstances. For example, if one parent experiences a significant increase or decrease in income, the child support order may need to be modified. It is important to note that child support orders can only be modified through the court.
In addition to working with an attorney, there are some other steps that unmarried parents in Arizona can take to ensure that child support is handled fairly and efficiently.
Communicate Openly and Honestly
The best way to avoid disputes over child support is to communicate openly and honestly with the other parent. Both parents should be upfront about their income, expenses, and other relevant information. If both parents are able to agree on a child support arrangement, they can submit the agreement to the court for approval.
Keep Records
It is important to keep detailed records of all child-related expenses, including school fees, medical expenses, and other costs. These records can be used to support a child support modification or enforcement action if necessary.
Stay Involved in Your Child’s Life
Even if you are not a custodial parent, it is important to stay involved in your child’s life. This can include attending school events, helping with homework, and participating in extracurricular activities. By maintaining a strong relationship with your child, you can help ensure that he or she is happy, healthy, and well-adjusted.
Child support is a crucial aspect of parenting for unmarried parents in Arizona. By working with an attorney, communicating openly and honestly, keeping records, and staying involved in your child’s life, you can help ensure that your child has the financial resources he or she needs to thrive.
Smith & Green, Attorneys At Law, P.L.L.C. can provide valuable assistance to unmarried parents in Arizona who are seeking child support. Here are some of the ways that our law firm can help:
Establishing Paternity – Our attorneys can help unmarried parents establish paternity through a court order or voluntary acknowledgment of paternity. We can guide you through the process and ensure that your rights are protected.
Calculating Child Support – Our attorneys are familiar with the Arizona Child Support Guidelines and can help you understand how child support is calculated. We can assist in gathering and presenting financial information to ensure that the child support order is fair and reasonable.
Enforcing Child Support Orders – If a parent fails to pay child support, our attorneys can help you enforce the order. We can pursue enforcement measures such as wage garnishment, seizure of assets, and suspension of a driver’s license to ensure that your child receives the support he or she is entitled to.
Modifying Child Support Orders – Our attorneys can assist in modifying child support orders when there has been a significant change in circumstances such as a job loss or increase in income.
Negotiating Agreements – Our attorneys can help unmarried parents negotiate a child support agreement outside of court. This can help avoid the time and expense of litigation.
At Smith & Green, Attorneys At Law, P.L.L.C., we understand the importance of child support for unmarried parents in Arizona. We are committed to providing effective legal representation and ensuring that our client’s rights and the best interests of their children are protected.
