Experienced Child Support Lawyers Serving Families In Indianapolis And Throughout Indiana
Addressing child support is a complex and delicate process, where the child’s well-being and future are at stake. At Doyle Family Law, our attorneys provide modern, comprehensive and accessible legal representation to families in Indianapolis and throughout Indiana. They are helping them navigate their family law challenges successfully. Our knowledge extends beyond divorce cases. We provide skilled counsel on specific and often contentious matters, such as guardianships, adoptions, and, of course, child support management.
How Can Doyle Family Law Help You?
For parents in Indianapolis facing child support proceedings, attorneys Eric Doyle, Lyndon Small and Andrew Barton provide straightforward and empathetic legal counsel. We understand that balancing work and family life while navigating the court system can be a challenging task. Our attorneys handle all the legal complexities, including forms, deadlines and procedures. Our goal is to ease your burden, allowing you to maintain a healthy balance between your work and parental responsibilities.
We strive to ensure that the child support order is fair and adequate, covering the child’s fundamental needs, including food and housing, education and medical care. We understand your concern about the fairness of the order; therefore, we work to ensure that it accurately reflects both parents’ incomes and your child’s real and specific needs after a divorce.
How Does Indiana Law Determine Child Support?
Indiana uses a set of guidelines, known as the Indiana Child Support Guidelines, to calculate child support. These guidelines consider the income of both parents, the number of children, and other factors like health care costs, child care expenses, and the amount of time each parent spends with the child (parenting time). The Indiana Child Support Calculator can help estimate support obligations.
How Often Can A Child Support Order Be Reviewed Or Modified?
In Indiana, a child support order can be reviewed or modified under specific circumstances. One of the main standards for requesting a modification is a significant change in either parent’s circumstances, which may include variations in income, the child’s needs or adjustments to the custody agreement.
Generally, for a child support order to be considered for modification, the current court order must be at least 12 months old from the date it was issued. Additionally, the new calculated support amount must differ by more than 20% (either higher or lower) from the current order. However, if 12 months have not yet passed, a modification is still possible if a substantial and ongoing change in circumstances is demonstrated.
Does Your Child Support Obligation Automatically Stop If You Become Unemployed?
No, the legal duty to pay child support does not stop or end just because you lose your job. Support obligations may still accumulate, resulting in substantial arrears (unpaid past-due support). It is important to promptly file a motion with the court to request a modification of the order based on your change in income.
What Is A “Show Cause” Hearing And What Kind Of Sanctions Could You Face For Not Paying Child Support?
A “show cause” hearing is a court enforcement process where you must appear and explain why you did not comply with a prior child support order. If the court determines the violation was willful and serious, it may impose penalties, including fines, paying the other party’s attorney’s fees or up to 90 days in jail. At Doyle Family Law, our role is to guide you through the process, protect you from unfair penalties and work toward a manageable payment plan.
Put A Results-Oriented, Indianapolis Legal Team On Your Side
We understand the importance of flexibility. We can operate entirely remotely, avoiding the need for in-person visits to our Indianapolis office. We optimize your expenses and also provide greater convenience and efficiency, always to your benefit. We handle your child support case from start to finish. We will personally guide you through the applicable status and assist you with processes such as emancipation and termination of support. We have extensive experience in specific matters such as wage garnishment and child support contempt of court.
We offer a free 30-minute initial consultation where you will receive direct and clear answers from our attorneys. We will review your case in detail, committed to accessibility and ensuring an excellent client experience. Call our Indianapolis office at 317-505-0971 or use our online form to get started. We proudly serve clients throughout Indiana.