Try Scott Johnson at Mast Law Firm. 661-2005 He is very nice, and if he can't help you than he can point you in the right direction. Good Luck. :wink:
Generally, absent special circumstance, child support is calculated according to a state formula. That way, child support is calculated according to one statewide formula, rahter than at the whim of a judge. Judges can deviate from that formula, but will probably document legal reasons for doing so. Again, absent special circumstances, child custody is usually granted as "joint" custody, with one parent generally having primary residential responsibility, and the other parent being granted liberal visitation. In a simple model, the income of both parents is summed, and then the amount of support is determined from the state formula... X + Y dollars income = combined income Z. In the Child support calucaltions for one child, at Z income, the amount is P. If party A contributes 35% of the total, party B contribtutes 65%. Thus the amount of P (amount of CS based on total income from table for one child) is apportioned 35% and 65%. If the 65% parent is granted primary residential responsibility, then the other parent would pay approximately 35% of the amount in the table. X=35000 per yr, Y= 65000 per year. Total income = 100,000 assume CS table has an amount of 1000 dollars per month for one child at that total income level. Parent A would pay 350 dollars per month in CS to parent B. Conversely, if parent A has PRR, parent B would pay 650 dollars to Parent A. This is a simple model. "credit" is also given for parents paying day care, insurance, etc. If you know the total income from 2005 federal tax filing or NC tax filing, you can look up the amounts at the clrek of courts office. You can also look it up online. I do not have that website at hand. Understand that the Child support table is a "guideline" and often beginning point. One can always offer to exceed the guideline. After all, it is your child you are supporting. Why go cheap? I am not an attorney, nor do I play on on TV. If my reasoning or understanding is incorrect, I will apologize in advance. I would also appreciate being told.
Sherry Morris in Benson handled my child support stuff. She is very down to earth, and straight with you. My personality is not assertive, so I needed someone who was tough. I really like her. She did offer free consultation, not sure if she still does. Good luck!
I liked them at Mast, but they charged $150 consult (or close to that) just to tell me I needed a lawyer in another county. So I was a little disappointed to waste the money. (I understand they cant work for free, but for 3 minutes I would have loved to split the difference.) This wasn't for custody, so maybe it will be different. Good luck
You can calculate child support on this website for free: www.rosen.com That will give you a general idea of how much child support you should be getting for your children. I wouldn't hire an attorney for child support if that was the only issue involved. Child Support Enforcement can do the same thing cheaper. www.ncchildsupport.com But if custody or anything else is involved, you'll need an attorney. The Mast Firm may be expensive, I don't deny that, but to me Scott was worth every single penny I spent on him. He knows me by name and if I have a problem, I never have a problem getting through to him. You can't buy that kind of peace of mind.
You may also go straight to child support in Johnston county. No lawyer needed. Depending on the situation. I think I would start there.
The clerk of court will no longer enforce child support cases as of 01/01/07. You're going to be directed to Child Support Enforcement.
That's why I didn't know about the fee. LOL I had to put my children on Medicaid until their father was over his hissy fit and took responsiblity for them and put them on his insurance. That is actually how CSE was required to go after him for support; because our kids were on Medicaid. Worked for me, I didn't argue! :wink: Please no flaming, it was TEMPORARY when they were on it, so chill out before ya'll pounce.
No pouncing here. My son is on medicaid because I can't afford health insurance on my whopping 7.50 an hour. BCBS wants like 170.00 a month just for him!!! When my benefits come around again, I will probably get them through the company I work for.
One word of caution, child support enforcement is slowwwwwww. They will get there, though and you can't beat the price when you are hurting for the money it takes to support your kids.
