Alabama Child Support

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Alabama Child Support

Navigating Alabama Child Support Laws

Alabama child support laws allow parents and the courts to provide for minor children within the state. The Alabama child support calculator is a useful tool to help you and the court determine how much child support should be awarded.

Gather Information

Before the court will calculate your child support payments, the court will examine some important financial documents. The court will require that both parents provide this information. Be cautious to provide the most accurate information. The courts will not treat you well if they determine that you are hiding assets or exaggerating your financial situation.

Gather and review the following information before going to court:

  • Gross income of both parents
  • Childcare and education costs
  • Child support for children of other relationships (court-ordered support)
  • Health insurance costs and extraordinary medical costs
  • Spousal support paid or received

Changing the Alabama Child Support Order

Either parent can request that the child support obligation be recalculated at any time. To request a change, you must file a Petition to Modify. A modification will only occur if the final number after recalculation is a difference of 10% or more from the original obligation.

If you believe that the court-ordered child support payments are too high, file the Petition to Modify. Do not simply begin making payments in a lower amount. The court will not look upon you favorably if you decide on your own what your payments should be. The court requires that all child support decisions be made in court.

When requesting a modification of your Alabama child support payments, always be honest and candid with the court. Do not lie to the court. Do not doctor documents. Do not hide assets or try to exaggerate your financial situation. This also applies to when you are asking for an increase in child support. Do not exaggerate or lie about the needs of the child.

Terminating Child Support

Alabama child support laws require that parents provide financial support for all minor children. However, child support obligations do not continue indefinitely. Instead, the child support order will automatically terminate once the child:

  • Reaches the age of 18 and graduates from high school
  • Has a change in legal custody
  • Is emancipated by court order
  • Enlists in the armed services
  • Gets married
  • Dies

However, there are circumstances where the child support obligation will not automatically terminate. For example, child support may not terminate if the child has severe special needs that cause him or her to remain dependent. If you believe that your child support obligation should not terminate, then you should notify the local child support enforcement agency.

Enforcing the Child Support Order

The Alabama Department of Human Resources is in charge of all [child support enforcement services in the state. There are several tools the state can use to enforce court ordered child support payments. The enforcement tools include:

  • Income withholding
  • Reporting to credit bureaus
  • Certifying debts
  • Income tax offsets
  • Passport denial, revocation or restriction
  • Liens on real estate, vehicles, or other property
  • Driver's license suspension or revocation
  • Suspension or revocation of professional licenses

Additional Information

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Comments

Gina,

First of all, let me say that my heart goes out to you and your daughter. You are under a level of stress that is unimaginable for the average person. Since there has been a big change in cir...stances, I would suggest that you consult with an attorney to find out if you can ask that the amount of child support be increased.

Jodee Redmond LoveToKnow Editor

-- Contributed by: JCRedmond

My daughter is 10 y/o and was diagnosed last year with a chronic illness which progresses to a terminal illness(Cystic Fibrosis-mutated gene from each parent)which required me to resign from my career and care for her. She has been hospitalized 5 times this year for 2 week periods each time. Her daily home therapy requires about 6 hours from me each day therefore I am unable to work. Her current medical expenses are about 1 MIL a year, yes $1,000,000.00

Her Father and I were never married. He does pay child support, he is extremely wealthy, we live in the same city, yet he has only visited with her three times in 10 years (total 6 hours).

Basically, my question is what can I do since I had to resign from my career to care for OUR daughters' Special Needs? The medical condition is genetic, again to have Cystic Fibrosis a mutated gene MUST come from each parent, so it's not entirely passed from me. Should he have to pay something additional since I had to resign from my 20 year career making a great salary, I have my daughter 100% of the time and exhaust all my days with her, caring for her...In the mean while he is going on ski trips to Colorado, fishing in the Carribean, hunting in Mexico and living a fun and great life and I am scraping by to try and financially support my daughter, going in debt and have no life. The ONLY part he plays is writing out a check once a month for child support, OH WAIT, no he doesn't...he has a secretary to do that for him !

Any help would be greatly appreciated !

-- Contributed by: Gina S

Lisa S,

If your lawyer has advised you to find a job, then that is what you need to do. Start a job search and keep records of your activities to show the Court that you are trying to become self-supporting.

Jodee Redmond LoveToKnow Editor

-- Contributed by: JCRedmond
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