Addressing Concerns About child Support & alimony Obligations

If you are involved in a divorce, dissolution or paternity case, you may be wondering whether you will be entitled to — or required to pay — child support or alimony.

At the law firm of Plymale & Dingus in Columbus, Ohio, our experienced attorneys provide skilled counsel and vigorous representation to clients who are concerned about child and spousal support. Contact us today for a free phone consultation.

Pursuing a Fair Child Support Calculation

Under Ohio's child support guidelines, a formula is used to calculate the supporting parent's obligation in most cases. This formula is based on factors such as each parent's income, the number of children each parent supports, and the payment of health insurance premiums and child care costs. Child support may also vary depending on how child custody is allocated.

The biggest issue in child support cases is making sure the numbers that are inputted into the formula are correct, which usually requires investigating your spouse's claims about income.

Also, in some cases, state law allows deviations from the standard formula. For a deviation to be approved, there needs to be a specific reason such as a an additional expenditure that one parent has agreed to take on for the child's benefit.

While child support is most often addressed in divorce and dissolution cases, an unmarried mother can also seek child support. We represent fathers and mothers in these cases.

Understanding the Factors Affecting Alimony

In addition to child support, a divorce decree or dissolution settlement may require one spouse to pay alimony — also known as spousal support — to the other. Alimony payments can be temporary or permanent depending on the underlying circumstances.

The most important factors affecting whether one party has to pay alimony are the length of the marriage and the differences between the spouses' incomes or earning abilities.

The lawyers at our firm are experienced at sorting out all of these issues and protecting our clients' interests in child and spousal support determinations. Contact us to discuss your case.