Guiding Parents Through The Child Support Process

It’s no secret: Few parents like to pay child support. Nonetheless, financial support of children is the responsibility of all parents.

Attorney Lisa Stern in Bloomfield Hills has extensive experience in guiding parents through the child support process. She represents parents who are obligated to pay child support, as well as parents who are entitled to receive support.

How Child Support Is Determined?

In Michigan, child support is determined using a formula that considers in part, the income of both parents, the number of children supported and the number of overnight visits enjoyed by each parent. Even though the amount of child support is determined by a formula, determining income used in the formula can be complex, especially if the payer is self-employed or owns a business.

Attorney Lisa D. Stern will fight vigorously to ensure that the judge uses a fair determination of earnings and assets to determine the appropriate amount of child support. We use forensic accountants and other experts, when necessary, to determine income, if a parent hides income or is deliberately underemployed.

Child support payments can be modified after divorce if there is a change in your financial circumstances. Our firm handles both modifications and enforcement of child support payments.

The Michigan child support formula is available online.

Can I Deviate From The Formula?

There are times when a court may order higher or lower child support payments than the amount calculated by the child support formula.

As an example:

• If a child has special needs
• If an unemployed parent is taking care of the child during the day thereby expending funds without receiving credit for the overnight.

Contact Attorney Lisa D. Stern

For an initial consultation with attorney Lisa D. Stern, call 800-550-3717 or complete our online contact form. You can discuss every aspect of child support with the utmost candor and confidentiality.