Westport Child Support Lawyers
Serving Parents Throughout Fairfield County, CT
In Connecticut, child support is considered a fundamental parental responsibility. It ensures that children receive the financial support they need, whether their parents live together or separately. This obligation is typically established in divorce cases, legal separation, or when paternity has been legally determined for unmarried fathers.
Navigating child support laws can be daunting. Understanding your rights and obligations under state law is crucial, as these decisions can impact your financial stability and your child’s well-being.
Legal guidance is essential for a fair and equitable resolution, whether seeking support, negotiating payments, or facing enforcement issues. At Ferro, Battey & Eucalitto, LLC, our exclusive practice of family law enables us to provide highly skilled legal help in this matter.
Call (475) 264-4362 or contact us online to consult a Westport child support attorney. Our service areas include Darien, Norwalk, Wilton, and New Canaan.
How Connecticut Calculates Child Support
Connecticut follows an "income shares" model when calculating child support. This model is based on the idea that children are entitled to the same financial support they would receive if their parents lived together. The guidelines calculate each parent's proportional share of the total support obligation by considering their combined net weekly incomes and the number of children involved.
To begin the calculation, the court determines each parent's gross income. This figure is adjusted to reflect allowable deductions, such as taxes, health insurance premiums, and mandatory retirement contributions, resulting in the net income figure. Net incomes for both parents are then combined, and the total is used to follow the state's child support schedule, which specifies a base support obligation.
For parents with a combined net weekly income exceeding $4,000, the court has discretion to order child support between a presumptive minimum (calculated as a percentage of the total combined net income of $4,000) and a presumptive maximum (calculated as a percentage of the total actual net income).
Deviations from Guideline Amounts
While the Connecticut Child Support Guidelines establish a standardized framework, courts retain discretion to deviate from the calculated amount in certain circumstances.
Courts may adjust calculations based on factors including, but not limited to:
- Special needs of the child
- Parental earning capacity rather than actual income
- Significant visitation or shared parenting
- Extraordinary parental expenses
- High combined income cases
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“I had a fairly complex case which involved adultery. Janet & Olivia were able to dissect the issue in a stepwise, logical manner, delivering ample rewards during the actual trial.”- Former Client
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“I know Ferro Family Law provided me the very best outcome I could hope for. Since then, I have retained them to represent me in some post judgment actions.”- Former Client
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“From the first time I met Janet & Olivia, through the end of my case, I knew I was in great hands. I cannot thank Ferro Family Law enough.”- Former Client
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“Aggressive, compassionate, cost-effective. I regularly refer Janet & Olivia to some of my most sensitive divorce cases. They are results-focused and responsive.”- Attorney Referral
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“This compassionate group of knowledgeable attorneys helped me and my children. I have and will continue to refer this firm to anyone in need of counsel for divorce.”- Former Client
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“Not only did Janet & Olivia quickly help me secure all protections for my daughter, they also ingeniously found a way to impel my spouse to get proper treatment.”- Former Client
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“Janet & Olivia genuinely care about all aspects of the client’s case and pay close attention to the client’s concerns, goals, and finances.”- Former Client
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“I have worked on several matters with Janet and Olivia. They are amazing attorneys. Smart, thorough and practical.”- Former Client
Have Questions?
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How long will the divorce process take?It depends. If the parties have an agreement on all issues and meet certain other conditions, they may get divorced as soon as 35 days from the date the divorce starts. However, that is atypical. Depending upon the contentiousness and complexity of the case, the case could last a year or more.
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What is alimony?Alimony is a court-ordered payment from one party to another. There are several factors that come into play when determining if one party should be granted alimony including, but not limited to, the length of the marriage, the amount and sources of income, and the causes for the breakdown of the marriage. Connecticut does not have alimony guidelines, which means that the decision to award alimony, including the duration and the amount, is entirely in the judge’s discretion.
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How are child support obligations determined?In Connecticut, when determining child support, the court is required to consider the Connecticut Child Support and Arrearage Guidelines. The Guidelines set forth a presumptive child support award for each case based upon the parties’ combined net weekly incomes and the number of children the parties have. In addition, the court may consider a number of other factors, including, but not limited to, the estate and needs of the child, vocational skills and employability of each parent, and each parent’s earning capacity. The court may also deviate from the presumptive child support for different reasons, which can include shared physical custody, coordination of total family support, or extraordinary disparity in parental income. To learn more about the calculation of child support in Connecticut, including high-income cases, click here.
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Who is entitled to custody of the children in a divorce case?The court may assign custody of a child to either parent, jointly to both parents, or in very rare situations, to a third party, depending on the facts of the case and the best interests of the child.
