Need Help with Your Child Support Agreement?
47% of divorces in 2021 involved children under 18. Fortunately, this statistic represents significant decrease over the peak in the 1970s. Child support agreements will always be a crucial consideration for separating couples.
How do you create a child support agreement? Many clients are concerned about making a misstep during the process. It’s understandable to be anxious. Child support is a vital resource for many single parents. You want to know that you will be supported financially as a single parent. An experienced child support lawyer from Shanahan Family Law will put your worries to rest.
How Much Is Child Support In Australia?
Services Australia, Australia’s child support agency, determines child support payments using various criteria. Here are the essential elements used in a child support assessment:
Each parent’s child support income.
Each parent’s percentage of care.
The number of children considered in the assessment.
The age of the children.
Services Australia determines the cost of each child based on the latest research on cost of living. The following tables reflect the 2024 update to the cost of children.
Children under 12
Children aged 13 or over
Children of mixed ages
How to Calculate Child Support?
Most child support assessments use the 8-step basic child support formula.
Calculate each parent’s child support income. This is a parent’s adjusted taxable income minus a self-support amount.
Add both parents’ income to find a combined child support income.
Work out each parent’s income percentage.
Work out each parent’s percentage of care.
Determine each parent’s cost percentage.
Work out each parent’s support percentage. This determines which parent will pay child support.
Calculate the cost of each child based on the parents’ combined income.
Find the final child support amount by multiplying the paying parent’s child support percentage by the costs of the children.
Why Do You Need A Lawyer for a Child Support Agreement?
Child support matters have many challenges. Whether you’re entering a binding child support agreement or a limited child support agreement, there are a lot of pitfalls to avoid.
Incomplete information
Accurate child support assessments rely on accurate information from the parties. Without this information, you can end up with an improper agreement.
Enforcement issues
It’s common for parties to be delinquent in their child support payments. If you don’t enforce your entitlement, you can end up in significant difficulties.
Ignoring legal advice
One of the worst mistakes people make is approaching child support matters without legal advice. Our child support team of experts are vital to securing your financial support.
How Can Our Child Support Lawyers Help?
If you need to access Australia’s child support scheme, Shanahan Family Law can help. You might be concerned about making common mistakes. We can help you avoid these missteps. With over a decade of experience, we can ensure you are fully prepared for child support negotiations.
We understand the frustration and anxiety you experience when your former partner isn’t fulfilling their obligations. We’ll work to ensure any agreements or child support orders are enforced either through mediation or through the Court.
Why Choose Shanahan Family Law?
You want your family lawyer to treat your with empathy and understanding. This is important especially when children are involved.
No two family law cases are the same. With over a decade of experience, we understand that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.
We’re always available to you when you need us. We’re happy to stay in touch by email, over the phone, or in person.
Over the many years we’ve practised law, we have developed significant experience across every part of family law. We can help you with all aspects of parenting arrangements and property matters to give you peace of mind.
Our focus is finding common ground. We want to create an amicable solution through mediation is preferable to litigation.
If you have any more questions, please contact us to learn more about child support agreements for parents.
