What Is Child Support and Who Is Entitled to It?
By David Betz
Jun. 29, 2018 11:53a
Missouri is a state that is considered a no-fault divorce state. That means that no one has to be at-fault for a marriage to dissolve. If one or both parties think that their marriage can no longer work, they can petition for divorce.
That is not to say that you can’t have grounds for divorce - you can, but it does mean that no one party has to blame for two people to get a divorce.
When people divorce and there are children involved, it is much more complicated. Agreeing who the child lives with, who gets major decision-making power, and who has to pay for specific child-related costs, are all things that need to be written down and strictly followed.
It is possible for the parent who has the child for the majority of the time to receive child support payments from the other parent.
Who Qualifies to Receive Child Support?
Whoever is deemed the custodial parent for a child who is under the age of 18 might be entitled to receive child support from the other (non-custodial) parent. If the child is physically or mentally incapacitated, then the period of child support might be extended past 18 years of age.
Also, if the child continues after high school to seek a secondary degree, then the non-custodial parent might be required to maintain child support until the child graduates.
How Is Child Support Calculated?
To figure out how much the custodial parent is eligible to receive from the non-custodial parent, Form 14 must be filled out. It is a state-mandated formula that calculates how much the custodial parent is entitled to receive.
What Factors Determine How Much a Parent Is Entitled to Receive?
The factors that determine the amount of child support that is required are things like health insurance, the number of children that both the custodial and non-custodial parents have, child care costs and the total amount of time that the child spends with the individual parents.
Other circumstances might be in play when the judge awards child support payments, which can affect the amount required. Although Form 14 is a guide, the judge has ultimate discretion to decide what the custodial parent is, or is not, entitled to related to the individual parents' case.
If you are getting a divorce in the state of Missouri and there are children involved, things can get complicated quickly. To make sure that you are getting all the support you need and that you aren’t giving more than you should, it is a good idea to speak with a St. Louis divorce attorney to help you through the dissolution of your marriage.
When children are involved in a divorce, emotions can get high, and contention can start building, which is never a good scenario for families. To take the animosity out of dealing with your spouse, let a St. Louis divorce lawyer be your go-between to make sure you get a fair settlement without any more heartache than necessary.