Child Support Attorney in Chesterfield

Understanding Child Support Calculations and Your Rights in Missouri

While both parents are expected to the share the financial burden of raising their child, the parent that does not have physical custody will be ordered to submit child support payments to their co-parent. Child support can be a significant determination in a divorce or for unmarried parents who are looking to establish a viable financial arrangement. It is critical that these parents seek knowledgeable, vigilant counsel when approaching child support matters and ensure that the court is made aware of any factors that could impact child support payments.

At Galmiche Law Firm, P.C., we well-versed in how the state of Missouri assesses and determines child support. In these cases, our award-winning Chesterfield child support lawyer is ready to listen to your concerns and ensure that the court is thoroughly informed of any factors that should be addressed before handing down a child support determination.

You do not have to approach this process without a proven legal advocate on your side. Contact Galmiche Law Firm, P.C. by calling (636) 552-4841 for a free, in-person consultation with child support lawyer in Missouri.

Missouri's Approach to Child Support Calculation

In the State of Missouri, the Form No. 14 Child Support Amount Calculation Worksheet is a child support calculator that requires both parents’ information, including income, alimony/maintenance payments, payments already made for the child, the percentage of custody each parent has, and any other expenses related to the upbringing of the child. On this form, income would also include tips, salaries, commissions, retirement plans, and any other sources of income.

Moreover, you will also need to input healthcare costs of the children, including medical expenses and health insurance, as well as childcare expenses and expenses incurred for the children partaking in extracurricular activities. If your child has special needs or requires specialized care for a disability, expenses related to these needs should be factored in as well.

If a parent chooses to be unemployed to avoid paying child support, the court can impute income to that parent. Essentially, this means the court will estimate what the parent should be making based on training, education, and employment history, so that the parent can be held accountable. Of course, this does not mean the court will impute income to any parent simply because he or she is unemployed. If you had to stay home with young children and do not have any employment history, or if you are unable to work due to a disability, the court may not impute income to you.

The Form 14 child support amount is the presumed amount of child support. However, the court can rebut the Form 14 amount as being unjust and inappropriate.