When you split with the other parent of your child, you may be required to pay child support in CT to help meet the child’s material needs. Many parents in this position are concerned how much child support is going to cost them, how long they’ll have to pay it, and overall what they can expect when taking on this new financial obligation.
Here’s what to know about the cost of child support in CT and other relevant information from veteran New York and Connecticut divorce attorney Heidi Opinsky.
How Your Child Support Obligation Is Calculated
In Connecticut, like with most states, a non-custodial parent’s child support obligation is calculated as a percentage of their total income compared to the needs of the child. Generally, this is 23% of your net weekly income for 1 child, 32% of your pay for 2 children, and 39% of your pay for 3 children.
Can I Change the Amount I Pay?
Paying 23% of your take-home earnings or more can be a significant financial strain on non-custodial parents. In some cases, you may be able to modify your child support payments if you experience a documented financial hardship such as job loss, demotion, illness, bereavement, or another qualifying hardship.
However, you will need to contact a child support lawyer or Child Support Enforcement Services if you need to apply for a modification order. Do not stop making your payments in the amount ordered without having successfully been granted a modification, or you could be at risk of penalty or being held in contempt of court for failing to meet your child support obligations.
What Is Child Support Used For?
Many parents ask the question, “what is child support used for in CT?” There are no restrictions on what a custodial parent can use child support for in CT, or anywhere else in the United States for that matter. Child support payments are direct cash payments to a custodial parent and while designed to cover a portion of all expenses related to rearing a child like food, diapers, clothing, and housing, the custodial parent may use the funds however they see fit.
It’s generally difficult to figure out how much food one child eats or how much electricity they use individually. So, child support payments are designed to simply compensate the custodial parent for some of what they spend on the child. Many noncustodial parents believe that they pay equal to the costs of a child, but this isn’t necessarily the case.
While the law does try to balance out the costs between parents as much as possible, in most cases, the custodial parent does end up paying more than their fair share of child support to provide for the child’s needs.
Help! I’m Getting Harassed For Back Child Support!
If you owe back child support in the state of Connecticut, you may be contacted by a collection agency regularly to ask about payments and when you will be able to pay. There are some limitations to when, where, and how often a collection agency may attempt to reach you, but child support services generally have the same authority as the IRS or student loan providers. If you have a job and have not paid what you owe in child support, your wages are subject to garnishment.
If a collection agency continues to contact or harass you for payments, despite being unable to pay, you should contact an attorney to help enforce your debtor rights. There may be a period of time where you are unable to pay and waiting for a modification hearing, in which case collections may be heavily pursued. Even if you owe child support, you have certain rights that prevent you from being harassed at work or outside of certain hours during the day.
Contact Connecticut Child Support Lawyer Heidi Opinsky For Guidance Today
Veteran Connecticut child support attorney Heidi E. Opinsky can help you navigate the many challenges presented by child support, whether you’re divorcing or separating and going through custody and support negotiations. Make sure your rights and family’s best interests are protected as soon as possible by reaching out for legal help now. Contact Attorney Opinsky’s office to book your consultation now by dialing 203-653-3542.