If you are entering a child custody case with no knowledge of parenting plans or child support awards, it is important to begin to gain useful knowledge surrounding these topics. Rather than listening to your friends who may have been through a similar process or accept certain “facts” you may have heard, discuss these topics with your Florida Child Custody Attorney. They will be able to provide you with a great deal of critical information while dispelling some of the most common myths surrounding child support. Listed below are some of the top 5 myths surrounding child support awards.
- No child support will be awarded if the parents share custody. Although, this may be true in certain cases, there are many instances when even in a shared custody arrangement a parent will be required to pay child support. Child support is not simply to be provided to a parent who retains custody of a child. Instead, child support is to equalize the financial burden of a child between both parents. Therefore, even if time is shared, financial discrepancies may exist that will need to be addressed through a child support award.
- Child support automatically stops when the child turns 18. This is one of the most common myths surrounding child support and can cause a court battle if misunderstood. Although child support does generally terminate after the child reaches the age of 18, in some cases it may continue. If the child is still enrolled in high school after they reach the age of 18, child support may continue; or if a child has significant disabilities, child support may be awarded for a time beyond the age of majority.
- Child support payments are tax deductible. There are no tax benefits or consequences involved with child support payments. Therefore, if you are the obligated child support payer, you will not receive a tax deduction for these payments. In a similar manner, if you are on the receiving end of a child support award, this will not be reported as taxable income. This is identical to the tax regulations involving alimony awards and payments.
- Paying child support isn’t common. In the United States, over 7 million people have child support arrangements involving the support of over 15 million children. The amount of child support owed in any given year is around $30 billion. Therefore, the number of individuals involved in a child support arrangement and the money exchanged is anything but uncommon.
- Men are never awarded child support. Although it is more common that mothers are at the receiving end of child support payments, almost 60%, custodial fathers have been awarded child support payments in 40% of the existing child support awards in the United States.
Understanding child support is crucial to obtaining a fair award and being able to argue your case before the court. Therefore, it is important to separate the myths from the facts and your Florida Child Custody Attorney will be able to do that for you. Contact us today to discuss your specific child custody dispute and allow us to answer any questions you may have and dispel the rumors you may have heard.
Speaking to an attorney at our Florida office is free of charge, and we accept calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Contact us at 850-307-5211 or complete an online contact form to get in touch with a member of our team today.