High Income Child Support Cases

When parents separate, or go through a divorce, they are tasked with creating a custody agreement. Part of this agreement involves determining child support, or the funds that the non-custodial parent must pay to maintain the child’s standard of living. For many years, the rules dictating high-income child support cases were unclear. The earnings threshold was set too low, and few guidelines existed to determine a proper payment amount. Child support attorney Anthony Piccirilli has witnessed firsthand that settling issues related to child custody can be stressful. With years of legal experience, Pittsburgh Divorce & Family Law, LLC will work diligently to protect your financial security.

Income Status and Creating a Child Support Order

Prior to 2010, the definition of high income, as it pertains to child support, was a net income of $20,000 per month, or $240,000 per year. Since several radical changes to the Pennsylvania child support guidelines, the new threshold for high income is set at a combined net income of $30,000 per month, or approximately $360,000 per year.

If parents are unable to work out a child support agreement among themselves, they may be forced to present their case before a judge. According to Rule 1910.16-3.1 of the Pennsylvania child support guidelines, the courts are required to use a three-step method for calculating the amount of child support in high-income cases. This begins by applying a fixed percentage to the exact income of the non-custodial parent, or the parent that does not attend to the child’s daily needs. This number acts as the base child support amount. From here, a number of factors are considered, ranging from the custodial parent’s income to the cost of child care. The final step of determining child support involves examining deviation factors, such as unusual parent or child needs and additional household income.

Determining Factors

In every custody case, the needs of the child are of the highest priority. In other words, how can the child’s physical, mental, and emotional needs be fully met? When determining child support, the court will often prioritize the argument made by the custodial parent, as they have taken on the responsibility of attending to the child’s day-to-day needs. Factors that a judge commonly considers when determining a child support amount include, but are not limited to:

• What is the custodial parent currently paying in childcare costs?
• What is the cost of the child’s educational and healthcare needs?
• Does the child have any additional expenses, such as private school, summer camp, or extracurricular activities?
• Does either party have existing child support obligations from a previous relationship?
• What role do mortgage payments play on the finances of both parents?
• How often will the child be visiting with the non-custodial parent?

Let Us Protect Your Rights

Going through the creation of a child support agreement can be difficult, especially when you do not get along with your co-parent. You may feel as if your interests and therefore your child’s true interests are not being properly considered. After all, you simply want to arrive at an arrangement that is fair for everyone. The Pittsburgh child support lawyers at Pittsburgh Divorce & Family Law, LLC know that going through these disputes can uproot everything you have worked so hard to establish.

Attorney Anthony Piccirilli can present your side to the court in the best possible light. He will guide you through the process, ensuring you present evidence that will lead to a desirable outcome.

Call (412) 471-5100 now to ensure your financial situation is not taken advantage of.