West Chester PA family lawyer, Joshua A. Janis is a member of Ciccarelli Law Offices, which is located in Chester County Pennsylvania and represents divorce, custody, support and family law clients in Exton, Kennett Square, Downingtown, Phoenixville, Malvern, Coatesville, West Grove, Avondale, Oxford, Landenberg, Westtown, Parkesburg, Honey Brook and Glenmore. Ciccarelli Law Offices also serves the five county Philadelphia area, including Philadelphia, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, and Montgomery counties and has locations to meet you in Springfield, Wayne, King of Prussia, Plymouth Meeting, Center City Philadelphia, and Lancaster. Disclaimer. Learn more by contacting Ciccarelli Law Offices.
212 West Gay Street West Chester PA 19348 (610) 692-8700
Joshua A. Janis, Esquire Ciccarelli Law Offices
Child Support Lawyer in West Chester PA
In Pennsylvania, child support is payable until a child reaches eighteen years old or graduates from high school, whichever occurs later. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court declared that parents cannot be forced by a court to pay for college expenses of a child unless the parent has signed a written agreement providing for college support. However, a duty of support may continue beyond the age of eighteen, if a child is unable to support himself or herself because of a physical or mental disability. The amount of child support that is payable in a case is based upon the monthly after tax incomes or earning capacities of the child's parents.
Pennsylvania Child Support Guidelines
Once the parents' monthly net incomes are calculated, Pennsylvania courts apply the Pennsylvania Child Support Guidelines to determine the amount of support payable for the children. The Pennsylvania Child Support Guidelines are formulas that consider the income of the parents, the number of children, amongst other factors. In addition to the Pennsylvania Support Guideline amount, an order for child support may also require payment of a portion of other costs such as medical coverage for the dependent spouse and/or children, medical expenses not
covered by insurance, and day care costs incurred while the custodial parent is working or going to school. Child support may be established below the Pennsylvania Support Guideline amount if the parents have shared physical custody or the payor has other children to support.
How Do I Begin to Collect or Modify Child Support in Pennsylvania?
A person seeking child support must file a support complaint with the court in order to establish a right to collect support. No legal obligation on the other party exists until the complaint is filed with the court. Similarly, if a reason exists to modify a support order such as an increase or decrease in income of either parent, the parent must file a request for a hearing to determine if modification of the support order is appropriate. Until a petition for modification is filed with the court and a new court order is entered, the parent paying support is required to continue making payments as outlined in the prior court order.
Contact Child Support attorney, Joshua Janis for advice on Child support issues. Contact him at (610) 692-8700.
Chester County Child Support Attorney – Legal Advice on Collecting Child Support in Pennsylvania – Enforcing Child Support Order- Info on Child Support in Exton, Paoli, Phoenixville, Parkesburg, Downingtown, Landenberg, Coatesville, Kennett Square