Lexington Child Support Lawyer
If you are concerned or have questions about your child support obligation in advance of a Kentucky divorce, or if you feel you are receiving too little or paying too much child support, the input of a skilled divorce law professional could go a long way toward charting a clear course for your future.
Experienced Lexington child support lawyer Lisa L. Johnson listens closely to your child support goals and educates you about income-based Kentucky support calculations and guidelines.
Learn more about your potential child support obligations by calling our Lexington office at 859-554-4691.
Lisa L. Johnson, Attorney at Law – Practical Solutions, Personal Service
Our lawyer Lisa L. Johnson believes deeply in “the best interest of the child” in all support, custody and parenting time matters. With over 35 years of family law experience, she helps Kentucky families on a wide array of child support matters, including:
- Initial child support calculations and establishment
- Modification of existing child support orders due to income changes
- Termination of support obligations
- Paternity establishment
- Enforcement of unpaid child support
- Contempt of court proceedings for nonpayment
- Support for children with special needs or extraordinary expenses
- Health care and medical expense divisions
- Child support for unmarried parents
- Interstate child support cases
- Retroactive support claims
- Tax implications of child support payments
Lisa provides direct personal attention to each case because she knows these issues have an impact on your children’s well-being. Whether through collaborative mediation or decisive courtroom action, she fights for fair outcomes that help your children thrive.
How Is Child Support Determined In Kentucky?
To ensure a child receives proper support from their parents after separation or divorce, courts follow specific guidelines when calculating support payments. They consider the following factors:
- Income of both parents, including wages, bonuses and alimony
- Number of children who need support
- Custody arrangements
- Expenses, including health insurance and work-related child care
The Kentucky Child Support Guidelines provide a starting point, but judges can adjust amounts based on your family’s unique circumstances. Lisa works with her clients to gather proper documentation and present a complete financial picture to the judge. She ensures the court considers all relevant factors to reach a fair support amount that truly serves your children’s needs while accounting for both parents’ financial realities.
When To Seek A Child Support Modification In Kentucky
Life circumstances change, and the law recognizes that child support orders need adjustment over time. To modify an existing order in Kentucky, you must show a significant and ongoing change in your family’s circumstances.
You may qualify for a child support modification in these situations:
- Significant income changes: Courts typically consider modifications when a parent’s income changes by 15% or more. If the existing order is less than a year old, the income change must be at least 25%.
- Shifts in custody arrangement: When parenting time changes significantly, support calculations often need adjustment to reflect new caregiving responsibilities.
- Additional children: When a paying parent has a new child, courts may recalculate support to balance obligations to all children.
- A parent’s remarriage: While remarriage alone does not automatically change support, it can affect household finances in ways that merit review.
- Job loss: Involuntary unemployment may require temporary adjustments to support obligations.
- Increased child expenses: Growing children often face rising costs for health care or special needs.
- Relocation: When either parent moves to a different area, associated costs may affect support calculations.
The modification process begins by filing a formal motion with the court that issued your original order. As your family law attorney, Lisa can help determine if your case meets Kentucky’s legal thresholds for modification and properly prepare your documentation.
Compassionate Representation And Personal Service
You can benefit from this skilled, compassionate divorce lawyer’s over 35 years of experience, starting today, by calling or emailing our Lexington law office to arrange an initial consultation. Reach us by phone at 859-554-4691.