If you’re considering a divorce and you have children, one issue you may have to face is how much child support one parent will need to pay in order to help meet your children’s needs. Negotiating child support can be an emotional topic, but you can take several steps to ease the process.
Talk to your Long Island divorce lawyer for tips on handling child support negotiations. The Law Office of Paul A. Boronow, P.C. can help with issues including:
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Being up-front about your income and expenses.
Gather paperwork that verifies your income and your monthly living expenses. Bring this paperwork to mediation sessions or other meetings about child support negotiations. When everyone is clear on what your resources are, child support discussions can go more smoothly.
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Make a list of your child’s extracurricular and educational activities.
The costs of raising a child aren’t limited to food, shelter, and medical care. It also includes education and activities like sports. Make a list of these activities and their estimated costs, and be sure to include them in the discussion so your child continues to have access to these opportunities. Educational, medical, extracurricular and child care expenses are add-ons to basic child support. Be sure to include them in discussions about support.
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Keep child support discussions between you and your child’s other parent.
Never discuss child support with your children or in front of them. Although reaching a fair child support agreement can be difficult, involving your children causes them stress about a problem they can’t control or fix.
Discuss child support issues with your attorney, with your former spouse, a mediator, or with your financial planner. Remember that the goal of a child support agreement is to help your children have the best life possible – which is something you can be proud to support. Contact the Law Offices of Paul A. Boronow, P.C. at (516) 227-5353 to discuss your unique situation.