Lake Norman Child Support Lawyer

Lake Norman Child Support Attorney

The child support process in North Carolina can be daunting to navigate. Without experienced representation, you might not be able to fully document your situation in a way that meets court standards, and you may not understand whether the terms of a child support order accurately reflect your financial circumstances or your child’s needs. A skilled Lake Norman child support lawyer can help you achieve a sustainable, legally sound support order.

Lake Norman’s Trusted Local Law Firm

Lassiter & Lassiter Attorneys at Law is a second-generation law firm that has dedicated its services to the Lake Norman area since 1970. We offer comprehensive support in family law matters, including child custody and support.

Our attorney, T. Michael Lassiter, Jr., has deep ties to the Lake Norman community. He’s committed to his clients and their families not just as an attorney, but as a neighbor. No matter your situation, we will bring the utmost sensitivity and attention to your case.

Understanding Child Support Laws in North Carolina

Child support refers to court-ordered payments that a divorced or separated parent must make to the other parent of their child to help meet the child’s basic needs. In North Carolina, parents are generally obligated to pay child support until their child turns 18 (or 20, if they’re still making progress toward graduating high school), per Gen. Stat. § 50-13.4. Both legal parents are responsible for financially providing for their child’s needs in North Carolina.

In 2022, North Carolina’s Child Support Services program reported that it collected around $640 million in child support, with around 97% of the funds being passed on to families.

Calculating Child Support Payments

North Carolina’s child support guidelines are prescribed by the state’s Conference of Chief District Court Judges. Family courts use these guidelines to calculate how much child support a parent must pay, although they have discretion to deviate from the guidelines if they would lead to an inappropriate or unjust outcome.

North Carolina uses an income shares model for child support, which assumes that separated or divorced parents should spend the same proportion of their respective incomes on their child as they would if they were living in the same household.

The process of calculating child support according to state guidelines is complex, but some of the main factors taken into account include:

• The adjusted gross income of both parents, which is calculated before income tax deductions and other withholdings, and which includes retirement benefits, Social Security benefits, etc.
• Who has physical custody of the child
  The child’s support needs, including the cost of food, housing, clothes, healthcare, education, and daycare
• The child’s standard of living before the divorce or separation

For parents with significant income, the normal schedule for determining child support can’t be used. In this case, courts are instructed to establish support at an amount that meets the child’s reasonable needs, ideally without compromising their standard of living.

Very low-income parents, on the other hand, are given exceptions to help them support themselves as well as their children. North Carolina’s child support guidelines establish a self-support reserve that adjusts support obligations based on income to help people maintain a minimum living standard that meets the 2022 federal poverty level ($1,133.00 per person per month). Even for these parents, however, the minimum monthly support order is $50.

Why Hire a Lake Norman Child Support Lawyer?

The child support system can be difficult to navigate alone. Calculating how much child support you can expect to owe or receive requires deep knowledge of North Carolina’s guidelines and how they are applied in practice.

Getting support from a child support attorney helps you protect your right, and your child’s right, to an equitable child support arrangement. This is an investment that can help you set your child up for future financial security.

FAQs About Lake Norman, NC Child Support Laws

How Much Is a Child Support Lawyer in North Carolina?

The cost of hiring a child support lawyer in North Carolina varies significantly depending on the firm and the nature of your case. Generally, lawyers in this field tend to charge in the hundreds of dollars per hour. The longer your case takes to resolve, the more it will cost to retain a lawyer. It’s always a good idea to ask about fees and payment plans during your initial consultation with a lawyer.

Do I Need a Lawyer to Claim Child Support?

You do not need to hire a child support lawyer to file a child support petition. However, seeking professional legal assistance can improve your chances of a favorable child support arrangement. You can apply online for child support through the North Carolina Child Support Services site or go in person to your local CSS office. There are several CSS offices in the Lake Norman area, with Mecklenburg, Iredell, Lincoln, and Catawba counties each having their own offices.

How Is Child Support Enforced?

In North Carolina, the Office of Child Support Services can use various tools to collect child support from parents who don’t comply with child support orders. One of the most common methods is income withholding, which takes money directly from the parent’s paycheck; in 2022, Child Support Services collected 71% of all child support statewide through income withholding.

How Much Child Support Will I Pay if I Make $1,000 a Week?

It’s often not possible to calculate expected child support payments based on your income alone. North Carolina’s child support guidelines consider each parent’s income relative to the other’s, along with many other factors. The answer to this question would differ depending on your circumstances, such as one parent making significantly more or less than the other. Only one parent typically pays child support to the other.

Rely on an Experienced Lake Norman Child Support Attorney

If you’re ready to place your child’s financial future in the hands of a trusted Lake Norman family lawyer, we invite you to schedule your consultation with Lassiter & Lassiter Attorneys at Law today. Our office is based in Statesville, but we serve clients throughout the Lake Norman area.