After getting divorced, you may be looking to move on with your life and find new love. As you contemplate remarriage, you may be worried about how this happy event may affect your child support agreement. Our Suffolk County family Esq. at Simonetti & Associates is here to help shed some light on this issue. Continue reading to discover more!
Does Child Support Get Affected If You Remarry?
After a divorce, it’s common for one spouse to pay child support for their minor children. However, when the custodial parent gets remarried and starts living with their new spouse, several questions can arise regarding child support. Both birth parents are responsible for the well-being of their children. In New York, the Child Support Standards Act (CSSA) outlines how child support is awarded by the family courts. There are three elements of support under this act:
- Periodic and regular payments.
- Payments toward the child’s healthcare costs.
- Additional contributions like child care.
The family courts will strictly enforce these guidelines when determining support. If someone remarries, the non-custodial parent is still responsible for paying their fair share of support. A remarriage may not be enough to modify a child support agreement. If you or your former spouse remarries, your new spouses are not responsible for supporting children from a previous marriage. Each parent has the right to file a petition to change or modify the child support amount if there is a substantial change in circumstances. These significant changes can include the following:
- Loss of income for the paying parent.
- Increase in needs for the child.
- Increase in household expenses.
If your situation is similar to any of the above changes, our Suffolk County Esq. can help you determine if you are eligible for child support modification.
Contact Our Suffolk County Family ESQ.
If you are worried about child support payments in the event of a remarriage, our Suffolk County Esq. at Simonetti & Associates is here to help! With more than 30 years of experience, our experts will help you determine any potential modifications and minimize the stress that can come along with child support cases. Be sure to contact our office today to learn more and request a free consultation!
