Allegheny County, PA Child Custody and Support Attorneys
Even when a split is amicable, going through a divorce when children are involved is a complex situation. And, if you and your spouse can't agree on details like child custody and support, you can find yourself drawn into a lengthy court battle. This is expensive and emotionally taxing for everyone, including your children.
During a divorce, the optimal outcome is when both parents can come to a mutually satisfying arrangement without going to court. However, something this simply isn't possible. At this point, the courts will step in and resolve the arrangement instead. Ensure you have attorneys who will advocate for you and your child by contacting the law firm of DeRiso Law Group today.
Facts About Child Custody
When making decisions about child custody arrangements, family courts put the welfare of the child first. They use a combination of factors when determining these arrangements, including:
- Emotional and physical health of the child
- Wishes of the child
- Child's relationship with each parent
- Wishes of the parents
- Child's emotional relationship and adjustment to school, home, and community
- Physical and mental health of all parties
Additionally, you may have heard of joint custody, legal custody, and sole custody.
- Joint custody: Also known as shared custody, both parents share custody so both have continuous contact with their child. However, you can have joint custody without having a 50/50 split of custody time.
- Legal custody: Legal custody is the right to make important decisions for the child, and both parents may have legal custody -- even if one parent has primary physical custody.
- Sole custody: This is when the courts award both physical and legal custody to only one parent. Sole custody is rare but happens in special circumstances.
Facts About Child Support
Unlike determining child custody, Allegheny County (and the rest of Pennsylvania) uses a financial model to determine child support. Child support is usually required when parents divorce. It can also be ordered if the parents have never married but one parent isn't contributing to the child's financial needs.
Following are some things you should know about child support:
- Both parents must provide for their child, regardless of who has physical custody. However, the parent without primary physical custody meets his or her obligations by making payments to the other parent.
- Support payments depend on each parent's earning capacity, which the ability to earn based on experience and education. The court will mandatorily assign earning capacity to a parent if he or she makes no effort to obtain employment.
- Child support payments are also determined through an income formula based on the needs of the child and the ability of both parents to provide for those needs.
Ensure you have child custody and support lawyers working to ensure the best possible outcome for your child. Contact our legal team today.
DeRiso Law Group Family Law Attorneys
We offer experienced counsel for all your family law needs and work for quick resolution. Call our office at (412) 452-9712 or contact us online. We offer flexible scheduling and an initial consultation.
