Child Support
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Navigating the Complexities of Child Support Laws
In many divorce cases or custody cases that involve child custody, mandatory child support is ordered to be paid from one parent to the other. In most child support cases, the court will order the non-custodial parent to make child support payments to the custodial parent. If physical custody is shared, a special agreement may be established.
Child support issues can quickly become stressful and the subject of significant litigation if you do not have a child support attorney in Kansas City to represent you. At Davis | Family Law, our attorneys have over 35 years of experience in family law and are prepared to help you through the complex child support process.
Contact Our Kansas City Child Support Attorneys Today to Schedule a Consultation.
Why You Should Hire Our Kansas City Attorney for Child Support
If you are currently under a child support order but believe that you should not be paying child support, you need to get the child support order modified. If the reason you believe child support should stop changes, then that order must be changed as well. A Kansas City family law lawyer can help you complete the Motion to Modify Child Support as soon as possible.
In many cases, a modification request also requires gathering pay stubs, tax returns, proof of childcare costs, and records of any changes in parenting time so the court can see what has changed since the last order. We help you organize this information and prepare for hearings so you are not walking into the Jackson County Courthouse or other local courts alone and unsure of what to say.
Understanding How Child Support Is Determined in Kansas City, Missouri
A few factors which are considered by the court in a child support determination include:
- The existing or proposed child custody agreement
- The income and earning capacity of each spouse
- The schooling and healthcare costs of the children
In Missouri, courts rely on Form 14 and the Missouri child support guidelines, which consider gross income, work-related childcare expenses, health insurance premiums for the children, and other recurring costs. We walk you through each line of the calculation so you understand how the number is reached and where there may be room to argue for adjustments based on your specific facts.
Can Child Support Be Waived in Missouri? Here’s What You Need to Know
Yes, child support can be waived in Missouri by altering a child support order or terminated by the court only. A parent who does not have sole custody of a child may request termination under the following reason: The child on the child support order lived under the noncustodial parent’s care for a period greater than thirty days without any overnight visitations with the custodial parent.
In addition to situations where a child has moved in with the noncustodial parent, changes such as a child becoming emancipated, graduating from high school, or entering the military can affect whether support should be reduced or terminated. We review your order, explain how Missouri law treats your child’s age, schooling status, and living arrangements, and help you decide whether it is time to ask the court to change your obligations.
Enforcing And Modifying Child Support Orders
Many parents come to us after a child support order is already in place, worried because payments are not being made on time or because a major life change has made the current amount unworkable. In these situations, it is important to understand the difference between enforcement, which focuses on making sure an existing order is followed, and modification, which asks the court to change the order going forward. We help you evaluate which path fits your circumstances under Missouri and Kansas law so you can take clear, appropriate next steps.
Court enforcement tools can include income withholding, contempt proceedings, or payment plans ordered through the family court, often in coordination with agencies such as the Missouri Family Support Division or the Kansas Department for Children and Families. When modification is needed, we look closely at changes in income, job loss, disability, new children in either household, or significant shifts in parenting time to determine whether the legal standard for a change is met. By laying out what the courts in the Kansas City area typically consider in these cases, we help you make informed decisions about how to move forward with your child support concerns.
Contact Davis | Family Law today at (816) 407-8702 to make an appointment with our knowledgeable Kansas City child support lawyer.
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