Greensburg Child & Spousal Support Lawyer
When you separate or divorce, one of you could be forced to pay financial support to the other spouse. If you have children, regardless of whether you were married or not, there could be an obligation of financial support as well. In Pennsylvania, spousal support and child support laws differ from what you find in other states. If you are preparing for a Pennsylvania divorce, it’s crucial to retain a knowledgeable Greensburg child & spousal support lawyer. You need someone who not only knows the financial aspects of support payments but also understands the nuances of Pennsylvania law.
At Bunde & Roberts, P.C., our attorneys are very well-versed in the legal aspects of child and spousal support in Pennsylvania. We have years of experience negotiating and litigating spousal support and child support obligations, including for couples who have high net-worth and other tricky situations. Every case we handle is different, and we take a different approach as warranted for each client. Our priority is to maximize the potential benefits for you. We pride ourselves on offering dedicated and specialized attention to every client we represent.
Types of Spousal and Child Support
Many people think spousal support and alimony are the same things. However, in Pennsylvania, they are different. Spousal support refers to the support that one spouse, typically the one with the higher income, pays to the other person before filing for divorce. Once the divorce petition is filed, support is called alimony pendente lite (APL). Both spousal support and APL typically terminate when the divorce decree is issued. Under the judge’s orders in the divorce decree, one of you could be forced to pay the other alimony.
Child support is the financial support paid to the parent who has physical custody. This amount helps pay for your children’s needs now that you are both in separate households. Child support almost always ends when the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever happens later. Previously, Pennsylvania required that separated or divorced parents had to contribute money to their children’s college education too. For that stipulation to apply now, it would have to be part of the marriage settlement agreement.
How Support is Determined in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has support guidelines for spousal support, APL, alimony, and child support. There are formulas and even a table that defines what the support obligations are at different income levels. The table considers some shared obligations, such as childcare, health insurance costs, mortgage, private school tuition, etc. With child support, the type of custody and amount may affect the amount of child support that the judge orders. The court has the discretion to deviate from the guidelines under certain circumstances.
Alimony differs from other support types, which is why the guidelines don’t apply. Other factors under Pennsylvania’s Divorce Code impact the amount and duration of alimony payments. Not all divorce proceedings will result in an order for alimony.
Contact a Skilled Greensburg Spousal and Child Support Lawyer
If you need assistance with support issues or other Pennsylvania family law issues, let our experienced and knowledgeable Greensburg spousal and child support lawyers help. Contact Bunde & Roberts, P.C., today to schedule an initial consultation.
