Spousal & Child Support

Norwalk, Connecticut Divorce Attorneys Handling Spousal and Child Support

Few issues are as technically straightforward yet emotionally challenging as alimony and child support. If you are considering a divorce or have been served with divorce papers, it can be extremely helpful to have sound legal advice. It can be equally important to get that advice from a sensitive, practical attorney who can offer commonsense guidance.

At Kimmel & Kimmel, LLC, in Norwalk, we understand how challenging going through a divorce can be. Our attorneys have more than 50 years of combined experience helping people throughout Connecticut deal with divorce and family law issues. We strive to provide sensitive, compassionate counsel about financial support issues. We will protect your interests and act as advocates for your children.

Decisions you make now will impact your family long into the future. Contact us today for a free initial consultation. An experienced divorce lawyer will meet with you to discuss workable approaches to resolving the issues of spousal maintenance and child support.

Spousal Support and Maintenance in Connecticut

In Connecticut, spousal maintenance ("alimony") is not awarded automatically. Whether alimony is appropriate in your situation will be based on criteria including the length of the marriage, the contributions of each spouse, and the age, potential earning capacity, and marketable skills of the non-working spouse.

Spousal support is seldom awarded on a permanent basis. Temporary "rehabilitative" alimony may be granted to one spouse to enable him or her to obtain job training or services that make it possible to enter the workforce.

If you have concerns about whether alimony will be awarded in your divorce, contact an attorney at Kimmel & Kimmel, LLC, for a free initial consultation.

How Child Support Amounts Are Determined

Who pays child support depends upon the child custody arrangements. It is paid to the parent with primary physical custody by the non-custodial parent. In cases where the parents share physical custody, any child support that is ordered will go to the parent who has the children in his or her care the majority of the time.

The amount of child support to be paid is determined by Connecticut's child support guidelines. Child support amounts are based upon the income of the parents and, once that income is determined, are fairly straightforward.

The guidelines are based upon the assumption that all parents have an obligation to support their children. As much as possible, the court tries to ensure the same standard of living for the children as they had before the divorce.

When circumstances change down the line, child support orders can be modified by seeking a change through the family courts.

Contact a Norwalk Family Law Attorney at Kimmel & Kimmel, LLC

For help with your child support issues, contact Kimmel & Kimmel, LLC online or call 203-803-2942 to schedule a free initial consultation with an experienced family law attorney.