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Child support relates to the financial support of children under the age of 18 to cover (amongst others) expenses such as schooling, housing, food and clothes. It is an important aspect that the Court considers when a separation or divorce involves children.
Under the Family Law Act, all parents are generally required to contribute to the costs of raising the child. This includes same-sex partners with children born through artificial insemination, and adoptive parents.
Child support payments can cover the child’s reasonable living expenses such as (but not limited to):
With a number of child support arrangements available, it is important to choose the right arrangement for your family and your circumstances. Such arrangements include:
Any parent, non-parent carer or other relative caring for the child can apply for child support and an assessment. As part of the assessment, Services Australia (Child Support) will typically look at the income of each parent, their level or percentage of care of the child, and the child’s age.
The amount of child support may impact your Family Tax Benefit, so you may wish to seek appropriate financial advice.
A child support agreement can be reached amicably between the separated parents without the need of having the matter be heard before a Court.
Parties who can reach an agreement can formalise their agreement in a Binding Child Support Agreement.
We recommend that you obtain legal advice before a child support agreement is entered into to ensure that you understand your rights and obligations under that agreement, and that the most appropriate arrangement for you and your circumstances has been taken into account.
If the parties cannot agree on child support, then the Department of Health and Human Services will make a determination.
You can apply to the Court to change a child support assessment due to special circumstances. However, the Court Registrar must be satisfied that it would be just and equitable as regards the child, the parents and any non-parent carer, before a decision to change the assessment is made. The Court Registrar will consider whether it is ‘just and equitable’ to make a particular decision after a reason for a change to the assessment has already been made out.
Our child support lawyers provide expert practical and legal advice to parents and assist with child support agreements, mediations, and resolving disputes regarding child support matters.
Child support and children matters arrangements may be addressed when applying for a divorce. However, the Court must be satisfied that children will be supported, otherwise the divorce may be rejected.
When the Court Registrar determines how much child support is to be paid, the following formula is utilised to work out the monetary amount a parent would be entitled to receive:
Depending on the circumstances, a non-parent who cares for the child 35% of the time may be eligible to make a claim for child support.
There are several options available depending on the circumstances, such as garnishing wages, freezing bank accounts, or even preventing overseas travel.
Yes, depending your circumstances, as spousal maintenance is separate and additional to child support payments which are for the children.
Generally, yes if there is a sum of money from which a lump sum can be paid towards child support.
Yes, it can impact the Centrelink payments they receive.
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We are Executive Lawyers, your commercial, family, criminal, property, and immigration law specialists. With our strong drive and results driven mindset, we execute strong strategies to help our clients achieve the best outcome.
Our team is dedicated and talented, and we pride ourselves on our client-focused approach and commitment to excellence. A matter handled by Executive Lawyers, is a matter that is in safe, confident, and capable hands.