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Child Support Lawyers Protecting the Best Interests of the Children of Divorce in Long Island, NY

Providing assistance in Suffolk and Nassau Counties

No issue of divorce is more important than the continued care and nurturing of the children. Regardless of their personal conflicts, most parents have the best interests of their children in mind. Specific New York laws designed to protect the children of divorce. In addition, the experienced lawyers at Jakubowski, Robertson, Maffei, Goldsmith & Tartaglia, LLP guide parents through the process of determining appropriate levels of child support — and we remain available to help our clients in Suffolk County and throughout Long Island, NY enforce the provisions of the final divorce decree.

How NY law determines child support

New York developed the Child Support Standards Act with the goal of ensuring that children can maintain the same standard of living they had when the entire family was together. Regardless of who has child custody, the law bases child support levels on a combination of parental income and the number of children involved. Each parent must provide 17 percent of gross income for the support of one child, less certain deductions, and the percentage increases until parents must dedicate at least 35 percent of their gross incomes, again, less certain deductions, when they have five or more children.

The state provides an online Child Support Calculator for parents who want to get an idea of their financial responsibility. But the calculator does not consider additional legal requirements such as provisions for the medical and other needs of the children. Our experienced Long Island child support attorneys help you obtain a realistic estimate of the financial obligations you can expect until child support payments end, typically when a child reaches 21 years of age. And we often encourage our clients to negotiate an extended agreement to help cover four years of higher education expenses, too.

What happens after the final divorce decree?

No matter how fairly the courts divide child support responsibilities, life does not stand still after the final divorce decree. One parent may suffer a job loss or other life change that make the agreed-upon payments unaffordable. Or a parent may enjoy a dramatic increase in income due to a promotion or other circumstances. Either way, both parties must return to court to seek a legal modification of the divorce decree.

Our attorneys provide the legal representation required to handle this process as quickly and efficiently as possible. And in the event that a spouse fails to continue making payments or withholds visitation rights due to nonpayment, we help our client take appropriate legal action to ensure enforcement.

Seek experienced legal support to protect the best interests of your children

The attorneys at Jakubowski, Robertson, Maffei, Goldsmith & Tartaglia, LLP work with clients before, during and after divorce to help ensure their children obtain the financial support they need. To discuss your legal issues and learn how we can help you, contact us online or call us at 631-360-0400.