How A Child From Another Relationship Affects Child Support

Question:

My wife and I are in going to divorce. We have one child, and I have a child from a previous marriage. How will having a child of my own to care for affect my child support payments for the other child?

Answer:

Please be advised that I am barred in Pennsylvania and will answer your question based on my experience practicing in Pennsylvania.

In this state, child support is based on the Pennsylvania support guidelines. Said guidelines calculate support based on the parties’ combined monthly net incomes. The Pennsylvania state legislature has come up with a chart for how much that couple should pay for child support combined each month.

The obligor will then be responsible for his or her proportion of that total monthly child support figure, based on his or her percentage of the monthly net income. Once you have determined the base child support obligation for the obligor, certain factors can then decrease or increase that figure.

Such factors include the amount of custodial time the obligor has, whom is covering health insurance for the child, if the child attends private school or has other extraordinary expenses, and if the obligor has another child support obligation.

You should schedule an initial consultation with an attorney barred in your state at the earliest opportunity to discuss the facts of your case and your options for relief in your state.