Alabama Child Support Calculator Estimator
Alabama child support believe children are a gift to humanity and should be treated as such. Any child that is brought into this world should be taken care of by his/her parents. There is no excuse for neglecting a child. Whether the parents are divorced or were never together should not be a factor in how a child is raised. Alabama child support law is based on this premise. This article addresses child support guidelines, how to calculate child support, and child support enforcement.
Overview of Alabama Child Support
In the case of divorce or separation of the parents of a child, Alabama State Law empowers the custodial parent to seek child support from the non-custodial parent. This payment for child support is required to meet the needs of the child. This includes educational needs, child care, and health care.
The child support program ensures that the child enjoys the same lifestyle he/she would have enjoyed if the parents were together.
Child support in Alabama is based on Rule 32 of Judicial Administration. It operates on the ‘income shares model’. The income shares model involves combining the gross income of both parents. And the number of children the parents have will determine the appropriate child support obligation.
The state reserves the right to enforce some sets of punishment should a parent refuse to comply with the child support payment. The punishment could be in the form of suspension of license, denial of passport, freezing of bank account, arrest, and possibly a serving jail term. This strict measure has been effective in ensuring that payment for child support is made and as at when due.
Child Support Guidelines for the State of Alabama
Child Support Guidelines are very necessary for determining how much each parent is supposed to pay for child support. In calculating the amount each parent ought to pay, the State of Alabama considers the amount of assistance that would have been available to a child if the parents were together. This helps to alleviate the impact of the separation on the child.
The income of the parents is a great determinant of the amount allocated to each parent. For example, if the father of the child earns more than the mother. He is then required by Alabama State Law to pay the largest share of the total amount estimated for the child upkeep.
How to Calculate Child Support in Alabama
Calculating child support payment in Alabama involves consulting guidelines that are established in Rule 32 of the Alabama Rules of Judicial Administration. Thus, the amount determined by this guideline is presumed correct and should be strictly adhered to.
In certain situations, a different amount can be agreed upon by both parents and proposed to the court. A good reason must be provided to the court and there must be proof that it is also in the best interest of the child.
In order to ensure that the children are properly cared for, the Alabama guidelines contain a table that states how much parents of a child ought to pay for child support. This is based on their respective incomes and the number of children they have. This table is also known as the Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations.
Based on their income, the parent with the greater income is mandated to pay a higher amount for child support than the parent with the smaller income. Also, the non-custodial parent is also required to pay his own percentage of the basic child support to the custodial parent.
Child Support Enforcement
Enforcement of the child support program is crucial as some parents may decide to deny the responsibility of caring for their children after a divorce. To enforce this program, the state of Alabama has many tools at its disposal to extract payment from defaulting parents. Some of these tools include the following.
- Income withholding: the employer of the parent is instructed to withhold child support from the salary of the erring parent. The amount withheld is then sent to the Alabama Child Support Payment Center (ACSPC).
- Loss of driver’s license and business license.
- Seizure of tax return
- Denial of passport
- Arrest and jail term
In conclusion, child support is necessary for the safety, protection and care of children. If you need additional questions answered, you can always consult with a lawyer to help clarify.
