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Parents struggle with child custody and support concerns

On Behalf of | Nov 14, 2018 | Child Custody And Visitation, Firm News |

For parents in Nebraska who decide to divorce, dealing with child custody and support can be emotionally painful as well as logistically difficult. Few parents want to give up on precious time with their children, and for people who are estranged from their former partners, the co-parenting relationship can be difficult. While some parents can amicably develop an agreement for parenting time, struggles over child custody might continue. In many cases, both fathers and mothers feel that they have not been treated fairly in family court.

While joint or shared custody is on the rise as a standard nationwide, mothers have primary custody in around 80 percent of cases. However, in many of these situations, the father is not actively involved or at least has not sought child custody of his own. When fathers do seek custody in court, they have a far greater chance of being successful. However, the drive to seek more custody can also conflict with the demands of a full-time job, especially when the parent also needs to pay child support.

Child support orders are based on a state formula that accounts for several factors including parental income and time spent with the child. However, people may have significantly changed financial circumstances after an initial support order is issued; parents may lose a job or become disabled. As a result, they may be unable to pay their support payments, and as debt racks up, they could even face jail time for contempt of court.

Parents can take action to modify an existing child support order that no longer reflects their current financial situation. A family law attorney may work with a parent to return to family court to seek a child support modification. By seeking a modification, parents might avoid developing a massive debt burden and the penalties that follow.