Do I Need an Attorney to Apply for Child Support in Clearwater, FL?
As a parent, you can apply for child support in Clearwater by signing up for child support services through the Florida Department of Revenue. While you do not need an attorney to sign up for these services, it does not mean that you should not have an attorney assist you during the process.
If you are dealing with an issue involving child support, it is generally a good idea to seek legal advice from an experienced Clearwater child support lawyer. Child support attorneys can help you in a variety of ways. There are several reasons why you will want to have an attorney manage the process. In this article, the Clearwater, FL child support attorneys at Cairns Law, P.A. will discuss the reasons why having a child support attorney manage the process of applying for child support is generally a good idea.
Your ex could have an attorney
If your ex has an attorney, then you’re going to want one too. You don’t want to be the only individual in the game who doesn’t have someone on their side who understands the law and the process of filing for child support. They will have an advocate on their side to represent their interests in court. It would give your ex a supreme advantage over you during the child support process.
An attorney can help you understand your legal rights
The Department of Revenue does not represent nor frankly care about your interests. They are not allowed to give you legal advice. A Clearwater child support lawyer can explain your rights and advise you of your options. Your attorney acts as your advocate throughout the process and ensures that you are treated fairly.
Child support cases can be complex
While the State of Florida has standard child support guidelines, child support cases can be quite complex. If you do not understand Florida’s child support laws, you could make a mistake, and your ex would gain an advantage because of this error.
An attorney can help you calculate child support payments
Florida’s child support guidelines provide for the amount of child support, which is based on the number of children and the combined monthly net income of both parents. However, judges don’t need to follow these guidelines exactly in all cases.
Calculating net income can be tricky. Parents may disagree about the sources of income used in the calculations. They could disagree on what deductions are allowed to calculate net income. You will need to ensure that your net income is calculated properly.
Adjustments can also be made for time-sharing. In other words, the amount of time the child spends with the other parent will impact how much child support they have to pay. Judges can deviate from the support guidelines once they consider the child’s needs. Needs such as child care expenses, medical costs, health insurance premiums, and education expenses all need to be taken into consideration.
Talk to an Experienced Clearwater Child Support Lawyer Today
An experienced Clearwater child support lawyer will know what to present to the court. The Clearwater family lawyers at Cairns Law, P.A., will crunch the numbers on your behalf and present your case to the court. Call our office today to schedule an appointment and learn more about how we can help.
