Pennsylvania Child Support Lawyers
Child support is more than a number on a guideline chart. Income, custody schedules, childcare, health insurance, bonuses, business income, additional expenses, prior orders and changing circumstances can all affect what a Pennsylvania parent pays or receives.
The Skeen Firm helps parents understand the numbers, prepare for Domestic Relations proceedings and pursue practical child support orders that reflect the facts of their case.
Your Child Support Case Starts With the Numbers — But It Does Not End There
Pennsylvania uses statewide child support guidelines to establish a presumptive support obligation. But calculating a realistic support outcome requires more than typing two salaries into an online calculator. The court may need to determine each parent's actual net income, the applicable custodial schedule, allowable expenses, additional financial obligations and whether the circumstances justify an adjustment from the guideline amount.
That becomes particularly important when a parent is self-employed, earns commissions or bonuses, owns a business, works substantial overtime, has fluctuating income, receives nontraditional compensation, has significant childcare or medical expenses, or shares substantial physical custody of the children.
Our goal is to help you understand what Pennsylvania's child support rules mean in the real world — before the conference, before an agreement is signed and before an incorrect assumption becomes an expensive problem.
Establishing Child Support
We help parents evaluate a new support claim, organize the financial information that matters and prepare for the Domestic Relations process.
Reviewing the Calculation
A guideline calculation is only as reliable as the income, deductions, custody information and expenses used to create it.
Changing an Existing Order
Income changes, employment changes, custody changes and other significant developments may justify seeking modification of an existing child support order.
How Is Child Support Calculated in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania's child support guidelines begin with the parents' combined monthly net income and the number of children who are subject to the support order. The guideline schedule establishes a basic child support obligation, which is then allocated between the parents based upon their respective shares of the combined income.
That is the starting point. The final calculation can be affected by physical custody, childcare expenses, health insurance premiums, unreimbursed medical expenses, certain educational expenses and other factors recognized by Pennsylvania law.
This is why two parents with the same gross salary can still receive very different support calculations. What matters is the financial and custodial picture that actually applies to the case.
A Child Support Calculator Is a Starting Point
Online calculators can be useful for an estimate, but they cannot decide disputed income, determine whether business expenses are appropriate, evaluate an earning-capacity argument or decide how an unusual custody arrangement should affect the support order.
- Monthly net income matters
- Parenting time can affect the calculation
- Childcare and medical costs may be allocated
- Business and variable income require closer review
- Guideline deviations may be appropriate in some cases
What Counts as Income for Pennsylvania Child Support?
Income disputes are among the most important issues in a Pennsylvania child support case. A parent's paycheck may tell only part of the story. Bonuses, commissions, overtime, business earnings, investment income and other sources of compensation can become relevant depending upon the circumstances.
Salaried Employees
Even a traditional salary case can involve questions about bonuses, overtime, payroll deductions, insurance costs and changes in compensation.
Self-Employed Parents
Business owners often require a more detailed analysis. Taxable income and support income are not automatically identical concepts, and business deductions may need to be examined carefully.
Variable Compensation
Commissions, bonuses, seasonal earnings and fluctuating hours can make a simple snapshot misleading. Historical income records may be critical.
Unemployment or Underemployment
A voluntary reduction in earnings does not necessarily mean support will automatically be calculated using the reduced income.
Multiple Income Sources
Second jobs, rental income, investment income or ownership interests may complicate the financial analysis.
High-Earning Professionals
Executive compensation, equity interests, bonuses and substantial non-salary compensation can require a much more deliberate review.
Not sure whether the support number is right?
Get legal advice before making decisions based on an incomplete calculation.
How Does Shared Custody Affect Child Support in Pennsylvania?
One of the most common misconceptions about Pennsylvania child support is that shared custody automatically eliminates child support. It does not.
Under Pennsylvania's current support guidelines, when the child spends 40% or more of the annual overnights with the obligor, a rebuttable presumption arises that the obligor is entitled to an adjustment to the basic child support obligation to reflect increased direct spending during that parent's custodial time.
Equal physical custody also does not necessarily mean that no support will be paid. Differences in the parents' incomes and the structure of the guideline calculation can still produce a support obligation.
Custody Information We Want to Understand
- Actual annual overnights
- Whether custody is truly 50/50
- Different schedules for different children
- Changes to the custody schedule
- Childcare generated by each parent's work schedule
- Whether the existing support order reflects current custody
The custody order and the support order should be analyzed together, not treated as unrelated documents.
Childcare, Health Insurance, Medical Costs and Other Expenses
The basic Pennsylvania child support amount may not be the end of the calculation. Depending upon the facts, additional expenses can be allocated between the parties.
Childcare
Work-related childcare can materially affect the monthly support obligation and should be documented carefully.
Health Insurance
The cost of health insurance attributable to the children can be part of the support calculation.
Unreimbursed Medical Expenses
Medical, dental and other qualifying unreimbursed expenses may be allocated between parents under Pennsylvania's support rules.
Educational Expenses
Certain educational costs can become relevant depending upon the circumstances of the family and the applicable support rules.
Extracurricular Costs
Not every activity automatically becomes part of a support order, which makes the underlying agreement, order and facts important.
Extraordinary Needs
A child's particular medical, developmental or other needs may require analysis beyond the ordinary guideline calculation.
Can Child Support Be Modified in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Pennsylvania law permits a parent to seek modification of an existing support order based upon a material and substantial change in circumstances.
A significant change in income is an obvious example, but it is not the only reason a support order may need to be revisited. Changes in custody, childcare costs, insurance costs, employment, family circumstances or other relevant financial facts may justify reviewing the existing order.
Waiting can matter. If your circumstances have materially changed, getting advice promptly can help you determine whether a modification filing makes sense.
Common Reasons to Review an Existing Order
- A parent receives a substantial raise
- A parent loses a job or changes employment
- The custody schedule materially changes
- Childcare costs begin or end
- Health insurance costs change
- A child ages out of the support order
- Business or self-employment income changes
- The existing order was based on outdated financial information
High-Income Child Support Cases Require More Than a Basic Calculator
Pennsylvania has specific guideline provisions for cases involving combined monthly net income above the ordinary guideline schedule. Those cases may require additional calculations and consideration of the statutory and guideline factors.
When substantial income is involved, relatively small disagreements about compensation, business earnings, bonuses or recurring expenses can produce significant differences over the life of a support order.
High-Income and Business-Owner Child Support
High-income child support disputes often overlap with the kind of financial analysis that appears in complex divorce and business cases. Compensation structure matters. Ownership interests matter. Cash flow may matter. The financial documents behind the number often matter as much as the number itself.
The same is true for business owners. A tax return can be important, but it may not answer every question relevant to a support determination. Business expenses, retained earnings, discretionary expenditures and actual cash available to the owner may require closer examination.
These are cases where preparation before the support proceeding can be particularly valuable.
What Happens in a Pennsylvania Child Support Case?
Pennsylvania child support matters are administered through the Domestic Relations Section of the appropriate county court. A support matter may involve the filing of a complaint, exchange of financial information, a conference or hearing, entry of an order and, when appropriate, later modification or enforcement proceedings.
What Happens When Pennsylvania Child Support Is Not Paid?
Pennsylvania has procedures for enforcing child support orders and collecting support arrears. When payments fall behind, the case can become significantly more serious than a routine monthly support calculation.
If you are owed support, the important question is often which enforcement mechanism is appropriate and what documentation is available. If you are accused of failing to comply with an order, it is important to understand the amount allegedly owed, the payment history, your ability to comply and the procedural posture of the case.
Do Not Ignore an Enforcement Proceeding
A support enforcement issue generally becomes harder, not easier, when notices, deadlines or hearings are ignored.
If you have received notice of a contempt or enforcement proceeding, obtain legal advice early enough to prepare your financial records and understand what the court will be considering.
Call 724-250-8841Why Hire a Pennsylvania Child Support Attorney?
Not every child support matter needs to become a prolonged fight. In many cases, the greatest value of counsel is identifying the correct financial information, understanding the guideline result and narrowing the issues before the parties spend unnecessary time and money arguing about them.
When there is a genuine dispute, however, preparation matters. We help clients identify the documents, calculations and factual issues likely to drive the result so they can make informed decisions instead of reacting to the process one hearing at a time.
Clear Analysis
Understand how the guideline calculation works and which facts are actually driving the result.
Practical Strategy
Focus on the financial issues that matter instead of creating unnecessary conflict around issues that do not.
Prepared Advocacy
Organize the financial record and prepare for Domestic Relations conferences, hearings and contested support issues.
Pennsylvania Child Support FAQ
These are some of the questions Pennsylvania parents most frequently ask about child support.
How is child support calculated in Pennsylvania?
Does 50/50 custody mean nobody pays child support in Pennsylvania?
Does having 40% custody affect child support in Pennsylvania?
Can child support be modified in Pennsylvania?
Does overtime count toward Pennsylvania child support?
Do bonuses count as income for child support?
How is child support calculated for a self-employed parent?
Who pays daycare in a Pennsylvania child support case?
Who pays health insurance for a child in Pennsylvania?
Can I file for child support without a lawyer in Pennsylvania?
Where is a Pennsylvania child support case handled?
What should I bring to a child support conference?
Pennsylvania Child Support Representation
The Skeen Firm represents Pennsylvania family law clients in child support matters, including cases involving support establishment, calculation disputes, modification, shared custody, business income, high-income parents and enforcement issues.
We serve clients in Western Pennsylvania communities including Washington County, Allegheny County, Beaver County and Butler County, as well as surrounding areas where we accept family law matters.
Need Help Before a Support Conference?
The best time to understand your support calculation is before you are standing in front of Domestic Relations trying to work through the numbers in real time.
Schedule a discovery call with The Skeen Firm to discuss the financial and custody issues affecting your Pennsylvania child support case.
Get Clear About Your Pennsylvania Child Support Case
Whether you are establishing support, responding to a new claim, evaluating a modification or dealing with a complicated income or custody issue, the first step is understanding the numbers and the rules that apply to them.