South Bend Child Support Lawyer
Even though you are moving on to a new life, your children’s support is a significant concern. You may have worries about how you will have enough monetary resources to support your children. Complex family law matters need compassionate and skilled legal support that can help you coordinate equitable assistance from your child’s other parent.
At Longstreet Law LLC, I serve clients in South Bend and Indianapolis and the surrounding areas in divorce, child support and other family law cases. I will make sure that your kids’ needs come first. Considerations for child support include:
- The children’s education, health and physical needs
- The family’s standard of living before the divorce or separation
- The parents’ income and available financial resources
Fairness In Allocation
My firm makes sure that all support calculations are equitable, including:
- Giving proper credit to parenting time overnight stays
- Spousal maintenance payments
- Health care insurance premiums paid for the child(ren) in question
- Coverage of uninsured healthcare expenses
- Post-secondary educational expenses
- Taking into account both imputed and potential income
Can You Modify Child Support In South Bend, Indiana?
Yes, it is possible to modify a South Bend, Indiana, child support order in qualifying circumstances. The amount of child support ordered is a reflection of family circumstances, and when those circumstances change, the order may require an adjustment.
The lawful grounds for an Indiana child support modification include:
- A job loss or lasting reduction in income
- A significant increase in childcare, insurance or medical expenses
- Significant changes to family schedules
- Either parent having a new biological child
As a general rule, a support modification hearing is an option when the current order is at least 12 months old and the change in circumstance is likely to produce a change in child support that is 20% of the current order or greater.
Do You Need A South Bend Child Support Lawyer To Help With Your Case?
No, a lawyer is not technically mandatory to secure a child support order, but their support is very valuable. Longstreet Law LLC can offer you assistance whether you expect to pay or receive child support.
The benefits of retaining legal counsel include:
- Assistance with complex calculations
- Guidance with court paperwork
- Insight into your legal rights and obligations
- Advice on the enforcement of an existing order
Support from someone familiar with the St. Joseph County courts and the judges hearing cases, along with negotiation advocacy from a professional not emotionally attached to the issue.
I offer a child-centered approach to child support and custody issues that can help you focus on your family’s long-term needs, not just your short-term emotional responses to a challenging transition.
How Are Health Care And Child Care Expenses Handled In Indiana Child Support?
Indiana treats medical and child care expenses as supplemental financial obligations beyond basic child support. When calculating financial responsibility for health care and child care costs, the courts look at the total estimated expenses and then allocate responsibility for a share of those costs to each parent.
The respective income of each parent determines their share of financial responsibility. If the parent paying support provides health insurance coverage, the premium for the child’s policy provides them with a credit that counts toward their overall support obligation. If there are uninsured medical expenses, parents share those costs proportionately based on their individual incomes.
Child care expenses can factor into child support as long as they are reasonable and necessary for the education or employment of a parent. Unusual or extraordinary expenses, such as the cost of specialized treatment for chronic conditions, can also factor into support in certain cases.
An Ally On Your Side
I am attorney Laura Longstreet, and I make sure that your case complies with Indiana child support guidelines whether you are in mediation or the court litigation process. With over a decade of legal field experience, including serving as a guardian ad litem, I use my skill to aggressively advocate for children’s rights to resources that will help them thrive.
Give Me A Call
The complexity of the settlements that come along with divorce means you need a family law lawyer who will advocate strongly in your best interests. Contact Longstreet Law LLC for a consultation about how I can help. Call me at 574-208-5982 or get in touch online with this contact form.