Being Sued For Child Support? 4 Steps You Should Take To Keep Your Payments Affordable

If you're being sued for child support, but you can't afford what they're asking for, you need to take matters into your own hands. You need to take steps to ensure that the child support that's ordered is an amount that you can afford. Luckily, there are some things you can do to keep those payments affordable, and still contribute to the care of your child. Here are four steps that will help you through the process.

1. Speak to an Attorney

Now that you've been served papers for child support, you need to speak to an attorney. Now's not the time to try and handle your legal issues on your own, especially if the custodial parent is being represented by an attorney. Your attorney will make sure that the proper paperwork is filed in a timely manner. They'll also work to make sure that you're not ordered to pay more than you can afford, or that's fair to both parties.

2. Continue Making Voluntary Payments

If you've been making voluntary child support payments up to this point, you should continue to do so. However, you need to make sure that you have proof of these payments. Now's the time to start making those payments through your bank account. That way, you have a verifiable record of the amount sent, and the date sent. You'll need this documentation when you go to court, especially if the custodial parent is trying to say that you haven't been providing for your child.

3. Include Other Child Support Orders

If you have children from other relationships that you're paying child support to, you'll need to include those other child support orders in your documents. Child support orders are based on your income. If you're already paying support for children from another relationship, those payments will be deducted from your income, which will reduce the payments required through this child support order. Once you receive your new child support order, you can also request that your attorney work to modify the other child support order.

4. Add Your Child to Your Health Insurance

If you have health insurance through your employer, it's a good idea to add your child to the policy. In some cases, providing health insurance for your child can help reduce the cost of your monthly child support order. Talk to your attorney about the benefit of providing health insurance for your child as a means of keeping your child support payments affordable.

Contact a law office like Kelm & Reuter, P.A. for more information and assistance.