How Lee County Child Support is Handled by Alabama Law
The law no longer favors one parent—only the interests of the children
There was a time when mothers were favored in most child custody decisions, with fathers automatically required to pay child support until the children reached adulthood. Alabama law now takes a different view, recognizing that the best interests of children are generally served by ensuring they have meaningful contact with both parents, and often ensuring both parents continue to make joint decisions regarding important issues in the lives of their children.
After divorce, children may reside with one parent, or they (or their parents) may even alternate residences to achieve full joint custodial support. But more flexible custodial arrangements and other issues can complicate child support issues.
Child support law is now more fair—and more complex
With two-income families more common than ever before, the law recognizes that either parent may have superior earning ability. This consideration and many others are now factors considered when courts determine who should pay child support and how much. It is even possible in cases of joint physical custody for support payments to alternate between parents based on where the children reside at any given time. Guidelines are set forth in the Child Support Enforcement Amendment of 1984 and the Family Support Act of 1988. The overall premise of the law is that children should continue to receive the same level of support that would be available if the family remained intact.
Legal requirements help ensure child support payments are made
Even well-intentioned parents may default on child support payments due to the sudden loss of a job or other financial strife. But others simply fail to meet their financial responsibilities to their children for a variety of reasons. Alabama law may require garnishment of wages, taking child support payments directly through payroll deductions of a defaulting parent. In these cases, deducted wages of Lee County parents go directly to a child support office—the Alabama Child Support Payment Center (ASPC).
Upon receipt of the payments, the ASPC immediately routes them to either the Alabama Department of Human Resources or the Alabama Central Disbursement Division. In either case, the funds are disbursed to the individual responsible for the needs of the children.
These situations can become very complex—particularly when the defaulting parent is responsible for the support of other children outside the dissolved marriage. The attorneys at Whittelsey, Whittelsey & Poole can help parents navigate the complex rules and regulations to pursue outstanding child support payments.
Contact us to discuss your situation
Whether you need legal support to negotiate fair child support arrangements for your children, or if you are not receiving the funds due to you, contact Whittelsey, Whittelsey & Poole to find out how we can help. We take the time to thoroughly review the details of your situation before advising you on your legal options.
