New York Child Support Lawyers

In New York, parents who have decided to separate must make decisions about which parent’s residence will become the child’s primary residence. That parent is designated the “residential” parent (regardless of the arrangement on parenting time) and is entitled to receive child support from the other parent to defray the costs of housing, food, utilities, clothing, and other necessaries. While parents are generally free to come up with their own, independent arrangements on support, when such negotiations are not successful, the law provides for a default formula and sharing of expenses that are commonly called the Child Support Standards Act (“CSSA”).

While many parents are aware that the CSSA provides a formula for the calculation of child support, many nuances still exist that require an experienced child support lawyer. In many cases, calculating the income of the parents requires more than a mere glance at the tax returns. Additionally, the law provides numerous factors which a court may consider when a party asks that court to “deviate” from the formula and issue an award that is less or more than what the formula sets forth. Finally, the law also provides for shared contributions to “add-on” expenses such as medical expenses not paid by insurance, childcare expenses, and other extraordinary expenses. These obligations and factors must all blend seamlessly into a fair and just award that meets the needs of the parents and children.

Attorneys That Understand

The experienced child support attorneys at Quatela Chimeri have handled hundreds of child support matters in both Supreme Court and Family Court. We understand that in each divorce or family separation, every dollar counts and that awards which are decided incorrectly can have wide-reaching effects on the family and future of our clients. Our strong command of the law and experience in trial advocacy help to ensure that our clients enter just and fair support agreements and receive awards that properly take into account their needs and the needs of their children.

We also know, and the law considers, that from time-to-time child support awards may need to change to meet the changing needs of a family or the financial circumstances of the parents. When these changes in circumstances occur, having strong representation is the key. The attorneys at Quatela Chimeri are recognized as leaders on this issue on both the trial and appellate level and can be counted on to ensure your family’s continued success.