When a couple decides to legally separate, they also need to decide how child support will be paid. If you are from Canada, you need to calculate child support depending on the laws there. You can either go with the standard process of paying it in one lump sum every month, or you can work out an arrangement where payments are made every month. There is no right answer for everyone, and you must discuss this with your spouse before deciding what works best for both of you.
Know How Much Child Support You Are Entitled
This is a crucial step and, if you don’t know how much child support you are entitled to, it’s worth hiring an attorney who can help. You’ll want to be sure that your decision regarding monthly payments or lump sum payments falls in line with what the court has decided will happen when you separate. The amount set must be something that you can afford.
This is also the time to decide if your new arrangement will be temporary (until your kids are 18) or permanent (for as long as they live at home). If there are special circumstances involved, like one of you has primary physical custody and the other pays support, this is where those arrangements would be made.
Gather Important Documents Related to Your Case
You’ll want to gather up important documents like your separation agreement, birth certificates for any children involved, and tax returns. You may also need social security numbers if you only plan to open a bank account in one spouse’s name or make other financial arrangements that involve taxes.
Hire the Best Lawyer for Additional Information
If you are unsure of how to proceed with child support, it is wise to hire a lawyer who can help. They will provide more information on the different options available and which option might work best for your family’s situation. They will discuss with you the pros and cons of monthly payments vs. lump sum payments. They will also be able to provide you with information on your legal rights when supporting children in different situations such as abuse, divorce, or adoption.
Make Financial Arrangements
After you have gone over everything with your attorney, you will need to decide how child support payments should be made. Suppose the court order calls for one lump sum payment each month. In that case, this is probably going to involve opening up an account in both of your names and making regular deposits into that account or transferring money from one spouse’s. This is how child support is paid every month.
This option involves less paperwork but still provides security for both parents if they have been ordered to pay support. The process of separating and organizing child support after obtaining a legal separation can be complicated. Discussing how to set up child support with your ex-spouse should happen early in the divorce proceedings so that you don’t get caught off guard when dividing assets or dealing with different custody arrangements. It’s also important for both parents to understand their responsibilities following the split, which is why it may be best for one parent to take on most, if not all, of these duties while working out an agreement.