About Child And Spousal Support
The state of Louisiana expects parents to support their children financially and otherwise, whether they are married or not. In addition, spousal support is sometimes part of a divorce decree. To avoid paying too much or receiving too little, it is important to work closely with a skilled family law attorney.
I am lawyer Chris Villemarette in Lafayette – well qualified to help you determine how much child support you should pay or receive. I can also help you understand whether a family court judge will expect your divorce to include a spousal custody order. I will explain your rights and responsibilities and advise you on the process of determining your child or spousal support amounts.
Understanding The Basics Of Support Orders
The Child Support Award Guidelines in Louisiana explain how the state will arrive at a child custody order when parents are divorced or separated. These guidelines take into account the following factors:
- The income of each parent
- How much time the child will spend with each parent
The Child Support Award Guidelines may seem straightforward, but the outcome of the calculations may be influenced by:
- The accuracy of accounting of your self-supporting income or that of the other parent
- Acknowledgment of children’s special needs
- Advocacy for your rights by a skilled family law attorney
Spousal support is not determined in a formulaic way, as child support is. Rather, it is decided on a case-by-case basis. Factors such as the following will influence a family court judge’s final decision:
- Income, earning capacity and assets of the spouses
- Other financial support of one or more spouses, including existing child support orders
- The supported spouse’s necessary education, training or job-hunting assistance
- The health and age of each spouse
- The length of the marriage
- Tax consequences of a spousal support proposal
- Any history of domestic abuse by the paying spouse against the supported spouse or children
If your divorce order includes a spousal support order, it may end automatically if you remarry while receiving spousal support.