Child Support

At Jorge Luis Colón, P.A. we are experienced with all issues regarding child support and can make sure that your rights are protected. All too often parents who want to avoid paying child support resort to tactics such as underreporting income, leaving their jobs, or working below their earning capacity. Conversely, some parents pay too much because no adjustment is made for substantial overnight visitation, payment of child care costs, or health insurance. It is important to have legal representation in child support matters so that the correct amount of child support is calculated.

The child support statute requires the court to add certain expenses to the basic obligation required by the guidelines to compute a child support award. The court must add the costs of providing health insurance for the child to the basic obligation, if the order includes a provision for health insurance coverage. In addition, if either parent incurs child care costs due to his or her employment, job search, or education calculated to either: (a) result in employment; or (b) enhance income, a percent of the costs must be added to the basic obligation.