Virginia Child Support Lawyer
Alexandria/Fairfax County, Virginia, Spousal and Child Support Attorney
Child support and spousal support (also called alimony) determinations are often contentious. If you want to establish fair support, contact Alexandria's Christian Curtis, LLC.
Christian Curtis, LLC | 703-879-7729 | E-mail
Spousal Support
Virginia law contains no mandatory formulas for determining spousal support. Courts must look at several factors to determine an appropriate level and duration of support payments (if they are warranted), including:
- Age and health of the parties
- Length of the marriage
- Each party’s contribution, financial or otherwise, to the well-being of the family and to the acquisition of marital assets over the course of the marriage
- The standard of living established during the marriage
- The income potential of each party and the relative ease of entry/reentry into the job market, including education, job skills and training options
- The relative responsibility of each party for the dissolution of the marriage
- The effect of distribution of marital property
Child Support
Child support, on the other hand, is determined by a legislated formula, which is a function of both parents’ gross incomes, the cost of any work-related child care, the cost of carrying the child or children on one or the other parent’s health insurance, and any uncovered medical expenses. Judges are permitted to deviate from the guideline formula to allow for special needs or circumstances. Most commonly, however, it is likely the payment will be the amount determined by the formula.
The supporting parent is required to make payments until the child graduates from high school or turns 19 years old, whichever comes first. For situations where a permanent disability is involved, support payments may continue beyond age 19.
It is important to remember that support payments are intended to benefit your child. You should never withhold child support from the other parent out of spite. You risk jail if you do. Your child is the one who has a right to be supported and maintained by these payments.
Contact Christian Curtis, LLC for answers to support-related questions.
If you are in need of a domestic relations lawyer for family law issues ranging from divorce to child support to protective orders, contact Christian Curtis, LLC today for an honest assessment of your situation. Please call my office at 703-879-7729 or send me an e-mail .
