Pennsylvania & Chester County Child Support

Separation and divorce are traumatic.  Unfortunately, the financial pressures that result from a two income household becoming two single income households adds additional stress.  When there are children in the family, dealing with the issue of child support can be confusing and emotionally hard.  We hope the information below will help with some basic understanding of the process.  Many child support cases go through the courts; but many can also be resolved, especially if the parties have knowledgeable attorneys, who know the rules and can work together to help the parties arrive at reasonable settlements and avoid the expense and stress of court proceedings.

What is Child Support?

Child support becomes an issue when parents are separated or divorced.  We want to make sure that both parents have the resources to take care of the child, or children, when in the custody of each parent.  Typically, the parents’ incomes are different.  Child support then, is a way of putting the parents on somewhat equal footing going forward.  This support generally lasts until the last child reaches 18 years of age, or graduates from high school, whichever is later.

How is Child Support Calculated?

When a child support case goes to court, the court adds the total monthly net income (gross income minus taxes and some other allowed deductions) of the parents.  Pennsylvania law has a set of guidelines based upon research on the expenses related to raising children in this state.  You can find these guidelines here. 

For example, if the parents’ combined net income is $8,000.00 per month, then the guidelines set total child support at $1,267 for one child, $1,795 for two children and $2,068 for three.   

Then the court calculates the percentage of the combined net income each parent makes.  For example, if mother makes $4,800.00 and father makes $3,200 per month, mother makes 60% of the combined monthly net income and if they have one child then 60% of the $1,267, or $760.20 is the amount mother will pay to father for support of the one child.  Now this is simplified and there are other calculations that occur.  For example, the parent who is paying for health insurance for the child is given credit for the price of the premiums. 

What does Child Support cover?

Basic child support is meant to cover the essentials. But a child support order can also provide for a additional expenses for the child or children, including, but not limited to

  • Medical care
  • Educational fees
  • Childcare
  • Transportation/travel
  • Extracurricular activities
  • College expenses.

Most of the time the extent to which the parents contribute to these expenses is based upon each parent’s percentage of the monthly income.  Since experienced attorneys know where the court is going and how it gets there, they can often avoid having their clients go to court at all.  There are cases that are harder to resolve, such as where one or both of the parents are self-employed and figuring out actual income can be more complicated than in the situation where the parents receive a regular paychecks.

Where can I go for more information on Child Support?

Chester County Domestic Relations, a division of our court, provides the resources at the links below to help our residents navigate the system.

These are just a few resources that are available.  If you have any more questions, don’t hesitate to call the Law Offices of John Craynock for further guidance.