Is There A Family Act Law?

Our national government stepped in to help families in 1988. States were given guidelines to get their own rules for child support. So, the first financial family act law was enacted Tthe Family Support Act of 1988 factored formulas for generating child support figures. It did not create any uniform national algorhythms for child support. This was left to the state governments.

Most states take the incomes of both parents and prorate the cost of raising the children accordingly. Some states use a fixed percentage of the parents' income. The court can change this percentage and couples can agree to deviate from this fixed rate. Another way to calculate child support is the Delaware Melson formula that sets a minimum figure for child support and uses the net incomes from both parents.

A child support order is only as good as the man (or woman) behind it. Many "deadbeat" dads have scampered from their child support obligations by just not paying, taking cash only jobs, and changing jobs often. States attorneys generals have either not had the funds to chase these guys down or their legal dockets have just been too full to pursue the interests of the children left behind in abject poverty due to divorce.

Child support is not erased with a bankruptcy. And it begins when parents separate, not when the order is signed. Parents cannot play games over visitation due to child support arrears. Single parents are also entitled to child support. Some states even require biological parents to pay for college.

When calculating your child support, remember to think about summer camps, tutoring, therapies, extracurricular expenses at school, and medical/dental bills. What if your ex dies? Do you have a life insurance plan that names you as the beneficiary to meet the needs of sole financial responsibility for your children? Is your salary keeping up with the rate of inflation? Can you meet unexpected payments or bills?

If your ex-spouse gets behind in child support payments, there are family act laws that allow garnishment of paychecks. State and federal agencies are now empowered to enforce payments. Liens, fines, and jail sentences can all be imposed unless the delinquent spouse can prove he/she has no money. It is unconscionable to think a parent would actually run from the obligation to provide for their children as the lives of these children who have no choice are at stake.

When parents live in different states, there is the Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act (URESA) and the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA) to help with interstate child support collection.


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Lil Lyon is on fire for kids caught in the middle of family breakup.  She knows that they are the innocent victims of parental conflict. So,she started: 
                                       http://www.forchildcustody.com 

Lil wants every parent to have the resources to get their kids.