In a marriage, it’s common for one spouse to have a higher income than the other. Sometimes, one parent even stays home to raise children. While providing valuable service to the family, they bring in no income to the household.
Child support is often the central debate in New Hampshire during a divorce. Especially now, as more courts are moving towards joint custody and split time with parents, lower income earning spouses might be particularly concerned.
Time does not always equal money
There’s a lot of confusion that equal time between divorced households means that there is no child support obligation. The thought is that both parents equally contribute to the children’s financial needs during their parenting time. That’s not always the case, though.
Especially when speaking of a situation in which one parent stayed home and now must transition to head of household. Child support is calculated to minimize the financial consequences of a one-parent family, and special consideration may be made when:
- One household has a significantly different income
- The child has extraordinary needs (ex: special needs, medical)
- The children do not have a life they’ve become accustomed to in each household
- Other circumstances brought forth with a preponderance of the evidence
Raising children can be a financially taxing event. Going through a divorce should not force your children to adjust to a lifestyle significantly different from what they grew up with. You also need time to adjust to the new circumstances too.
Protecting your rights
Being able to provide your children with their customary lifestyle may worry you during your divorce. Every rule has an exception, and child support is not different. Familiarize yourself with child support exceptions and seek appropriate channels.
