Did you know that 10 billion dollars go uncollected in child support payments? Avoid this from happening by preparing for your hearing.
Are you wondering how to plan for a child support hearing? Not to worry! In this guide, we’ll go over what to expect at a hearing.
Want to learn more? Keep reading to find out.
Keep an Eye on Your Mail
Make sure you don’t miss any mail from the court, ex’s, and lawyers. Read your letters with care and set them aside. Return to them to make sure you don’t misunderstand anything.
Don’t delay a reply. Contact your lawyer and follow through with things. By staying on top of your mail, you won’t miss out on a hearing or meeting.
Be Honest at Court
With the forms you fill out, make sure you’re truthful. You don’t want to overestimate your financial needs to get a certain amount of child support.
Also, make sure you report your actual income. If you try to sneak around the system, this will look bad at court.
Make Sure You’re on Time
Head to the hearing and give yourself plenty of time to arrive. You don’t want to make a poor impression on the judge.
Some cases won’t start right on time but still aim to arrive early. This way, you can have a moment to settle your nerves before your case.
Stay on Topic
At your child support hearing, the judge will decide how much support you owe or will receive.
The judge won’t have the authority to make changes to visitation arrangements. Don’t cause any distractions by trying to ask about those during the hearing.
Have Realistic Expectations
The court will decide what the child support’s based on all the information supplied from you and your ex. Your specific state will also have child support guidelines.
If you think your ex isn’t being truthful, mention this to the judge. If your ex has a low income, the amount you’ll receive is going to be small. Remain realistic when you head to court.
Remember to Stay Calm at the Child Support Hearing
If you believe the outcome isn’t fair, try not to lash out at your ex or the judge while at court. You and your ex will need to follow the child support agreement.
The terms aren’t set in stone. You have the right to seek a child support modification. You can ask to have the child support payments decreased or increased.
Since you have this option, don’t overreact at the outcome of the hearing. Remain calm and talk with your attorney afterward to see how you can ask for modification.
If you don’t have one already, look into getting a lawyer for child support.
Want to Learn More?
We hope you found this guide on child support helpful. Make sure you head to your child support hearing early so you can relax beforehand.
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