There are many different expenses that people in Oregon have each month. In addition to the monthly expenses, people also have extra expenses that occur periodically. Some of these extra expenses are very large and some are small. Parents also realize that they incur both types of expenses for their children as well. Sometimes these expenses can be extensive as well, but parents do have an obligation to provide for their children’s needs.
When parents are married, these expenses often times come from joint funds available to both spouses. However, this will change if the parents divorce. There will no longer be a joint account for the parents to use. Also, each parent may have a different amount of time with their children and therefore incur different types of expenses. The parents’ incomes may vary as well and one parent may have more income available to them to meet the expenses of their children. Despite all these changes, the law still expects both parents to contribute to their children’s financial needs and this is accomplished through child support.
Factors used to determine child support
The amount each parent may pay in child support each month depends on a number of factors. The process of determining child support starts with determining each parents’ income and the percentage of the total income that each parent earns. The amount of parenting time each parent has with the children must also be determined. In addition to those factors, the amount parents pay for medical insurance and child care, if applicable, are other factors that are used to determine a parents’ overall child support obligation.
There are many different issues that parents need to discuss and resolve while they go through a divorce in Oregon. One of those issues is determining child support. Ultimately, the amount is determined by the child support guidelines, but as one can see there are a number of factors that need to be determined before the total amount of child support is determined. These are fact-specific factors and each child support determination depends on the unique circumstances of the marriage. Experienced attorneys understand these factors and may be able to guide one through the process.