Parents in Jackson County who separate are encouraged to not only help their child adjust to their break-up, but to move on with their own lives as well. This will often mean remarriage, which introduces an entirely new dynamic into what might already be a complex family relationship: a stepparent. Stepfamilies are certainly not an uncommon phenomenon in the U.S.; according to the Pew Research Center, four out of every 10 American adults have a step-relative. Yet when a divorced or separated parent remarries, the question of what responsibility a stepparent assumes will almost inevitably come up.
Detailing a stepparent's financial obligations
Continuing child support when kids go to college
18 is an important age for many in Jackson County. That often is the year that people graduate from high school and begin to face important decision related to their futures. Coincidentally, that also happens to be when parents paying child support believe that their children have reached the age of majority (which they then assume ends their child support obligations). Yet what happens when an 18-year-old decides to go to college? Given that the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that as recently as 2017, 66.7 high school graduates in the U.S. were enrolled in college, this is likely a question that many divorced parents will have to face.
Securing health insurance for the kids
When defining "child support," many in Jackson County may state that it is money paid to help cover a kid's basic needs. Yet exactly what are those needs? Food, shelter and clothing are the basic ones that immediately come to mind, yet what about health care? It is easy to forget about the need for health care (or more specifically, health insurance) because people tend to only value it when it is needed. Given the high cost of care, however, it is easy to understand why the cost of health insurance is also considered when determining a child support obligation.
How can single parents save money this Christmas?
If you're a single parent in Missouri, chances are you're on a tight budget this Christmas. While you want to make sure the holiday is special for your children, you also don't want to spend yourself into financial instability. Whether you're concerned about making child support payments or trying to stretch them as far as they'll go, U.S. News & World Report offers the following advice to keep your finances on track this holiday season.
Child support obligations for disabled children
While it may be reasonable to expect that tensions exist between you and your ex-spouse immediately following your divorce in Jackson County, the passage of time should help ease those, especially if your ex-spouse remains compliant to any support obligations they may have (such as child support). It is well known that (in most cases) parents paying child support are no longer required to do so once a child reaches the age of majority. Yet what if you have a disabled child? Many in your situation come to us here at the Stange Law Firm concerned that once their ex-spouses' child support obligations end, they will struggle to meet their disabled children's needs on their own.
License suspensions for child support arrears
Oftentimes, married parents in Jackson County might have difficulties supporting themselves and their children. One can only imagine how much more difficult such as task becomes if and when such a couple chooses to divorce. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that as recently as 2015, over $33.7 billion was owed in child support. With such a large sum of money at stake (along with the well-being of those that are owed it), it should come as little surprise that family courts take the issue of child support enforcement so seriously.
Music producer asked to increase child support payments
Very often, the rewarding if child support payments in a divorce case in Jackson Count is often viewed as a punitive action. In reality, it is not designed to be so. Ex-spouses bickering over the amount of child support required may fail to realize that those amounts are determined by the court and are designed to not impose any unfair financial burdens on either party involved (nor to reward any of those involved for perceived slights they may have suffered). However, the idea of child support as punishment might persist due to the way that people present it.
What do child support payments cover?
Missouri parents still have a lot of work to do post-divorce. Your child still depends on both of you for financial resources, so figuring out a child support plan that works for all parties is crucial. Stange Law Firm is here not only to help get the ball rolling, but to aid you if you find yourself facing difficulties collecting support payments.
Modifying a child support obligation
When divorce divides a family in Jackson County, almost everything changes. Perhaps the one thing that does not is the love and affection the parents feel for their kids (and, by extension, the desire they have to care for them). It is for this exact reason why child support is such a pressing issue when it comes to divorce. Per the U.S. Census Bureau, over $33.7 billion was owed in child support as recently as 2015. In a perfect world, those who owe such a support would never have issues paying it. However, the fact that unpaid child support is an issue family courts are perpetually dealing shows that does not always happen.
Paternity testing and the steps at hand
No matter the situation, determining child custody can invite a world of stress for Missouri parents. After the obstacles of separation fade to the background, the court's decisions on parenting arrangements can create entirely new challenges. When there is uncertainty surrounding the identity of a child's biological father altogether, this stress can seem magnified.
