Child Support Lawyers
Child Support: What You Need to Consider
Child support is the right of the child, not the parent who receives the support. Both parents are responsible to financially support their children and this obligation continues after a separation or divorce. In fact, the court may refuse to grant to a divorce if it is not satisfied that reasonable arrangements have been made for the ongoing support of the parties‘ children.
In Canada, child support is set by child support guidelines. For married couples in Alberta, the Federal Child Support Guidelines are utilized and for non married parents in Alberta the Alberta Child Support Guidelines are applicable. The two different sets of guidelines are very similar. The guidelines are the law for establishing the amount of child support to be paid by either, or both, parents.
The amount of child support payable by either, or both, parents is determined based on that parent’s income, province of residence and the number of children.
In some circumstances there may be special considerations to factor in when setting child support. Some examples include:
- in shared parenting situations where both parents have parenting time at least 40% of the time
- when there are adult children that still meet the definition of “child” such that there is an ongoing support obligation
- when either or both of the parties earn an income in excess of $150,000
- if parents have unusually high costs associated with exercising parenting time
- potential child support obligations for a person who is not a biological parent to the child but has stood in the place of a parent
Use our Alberta Child Support Calculator to find amounts that may apply based on income and custody arrangements. Individual scenarios are unique and require professional knowledge to come to accurate ranges, please contact us for input from our team of family law professionals.
Child Support Lawyers Who Have Your Back
Whether or not any of the above situations apply, and what practical effect that has on the amount of child support payable, is a very fact-specific analysis. The family law and divorce lawyers at SVR can provide you with guidance and advice on what effect your particular circumstances may have with respect to child support.
[Janet] thanks for letting me know of your retirement… I’m sad to see you go but hope for your rest and enjoyment for all you’ve done for my family and others… With all my thanks I want to express all my appreciation for all you’ve done for us and all the grief it was to deal with! You were the right fit.
I write this review based on my experience when working with Stacey Lee as my legal representative. Simply put, Stacey is attentive (or vigilant if you prefer), knowledgeable, professional, fair, and personable. It was important for me to have someone that was responsive and competent. I never waited more than 24 hours for a reply and am very happy with the resulting agreement that was created, as it represented a solution that was best for all parties involved – which was important to me. Stacey likes to say I was the ideal client, but the reality is that she was the ideal representative, providing legal advice, while keeping me abreast of the big picture. Based on my experience with Stacey, I highly recommend her.
From the moment we met, Janet had not only a business approach to my situation but also a level of compassion and friendliness. I’ve worked now with Janet for years and not one time did she fail to meet my expectations. I have always felt at ease just hearing her voice. If she didn’t have the answer immediately, she has always provided one promptly. She has been my Rock and Sounding Board. I’ve referred her to others. If anyone is in need of a GREAT family lawyer, Janet Russell in my view is the lady to contact.
Stacey, Thank you once again for all your help with my file. I can’t express how much I appreciated you having my back yesterday and you do it so calmly. Your perspective and guidance helped me a lot – thank you. It felt like a whirlwind of numbers but you helped me keep perspective as we went along…Thank you again for helping us bring things to closure.
Very satisfied with the services provided by the lawyers at SVR Lawyers! It was a long and convoluted divorce process, but Abram Averbach, Cindy Lee and their assistants have helped me to navigate through it and finalize it. I highly recommend them!
Stacey Lee handled the sale of my business and separation from a spouse attending to both my corporate and family law matters. Stacey provided a calm and realistic voice when tensions and emotions were high. Stacey approached the resolution of my files with opposing counsel in a collaborative way, seeking to reduce court appearances and conflict between all parties involved. I would work with Stacey again and recommend her to anyone requiring assistance in family or corporate matters.