Child Support: Deviating From Guidelines?
Child support is generally ordered pursuant to the guidelines provided for in the governing statutes. Courts may deviate from these guidelines if it finds that the guidelines amount would be unfair. The court makes the fairness determination after evaluating the fifteen fairness factors. It is important for litigants to be prepared ahead of any request for deviation because the burden is on the requesting party to show that deviation is appropriate. Litigants often believe that child support is “just math,” but it can be much more complicated than that. An attorney can help parties look at all 15 factors, determine which ones apply, and make legal arguments on your behalf.
